5 KEY BATTLE GROUNDS

ADAM BEARD v TADHG BEIRNE

Hats off to Adam for squaring up to adversity last year when he was left out of the squad. He’s pushed his way back into the starting XV through some magnificent displays at the Ospreys and is ready to return to the international stage. His high nuisance value in the mauls, allied to his great lineout ability, make him a key character in the Welsh pack. But he needs to find a way to get Tadhg Beirne tied into the tight phases so he can’t hurt Wales in the loose. Beirne and his Irish second row partner James Ryan are both great ball carriers and Beirne, as we all know from his days at the Scarlets, is a brilliant offloader. Keep his head in the hard stuff and that will make life easier for Wales. This is going to be a very interesting battle – Ospreys v Scarlets resurrected!

JOHNNY SEXTON v WELSH BACK THREE

There is a new look to the Welsh back three and that won’t have gone unnoticed by Irish skipper and playmaker Johnny Sexton. Leigh Halfpenny, Hallam Amos and Louis Rees-Zamitt can expect the ball to rain down on them. The good thing from the Welsh perspective is that all three have experience of playing at fullback and are all capable in the air. But when you look at the four losses in a row to Ireland it has been noticeable how poor Wales have been in the aerial battles. Show any sign of weakness today and Sexton, as well as his half-back partner Conor Murray, will just keep on peppering you.

TOMOS WILLIAMS v CONOR MURRAY

It will be down to Tomos Williams to stay on top of Murray and make life difficult for him as the chief orchestrator behind the Irish pack. The Munster man has been one of the top scrum-halves in the world for the past four or five years and he has been given an armchair ride by his pack for much of that time. I think Tomos Williams is another Mike Phillips in the making and it is important that he hounds and harries Murray from start to finish. He needs to get under his skin and put him off his game. If Murray is allowed to run the show at the heels of his forwards, then he will combine with Sexton in kicking Wales to death.

WYN JONES v ANDREW PORTER AND TADHG FURLONG

Pivac has already admitted that his front five needs to improve and a lot of that responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Scarlets loose-head Wyn Jones. He has done so well to install himself as Wales No.1, but too many penalties have been conceded by him and his front row colleagues over the past year. That piles on the pressure with the way the modern game is played. A kick to the corner for a shot at a driving lineout try is the consequence of a scrum collapse. Up against Wyn in the first half will be Andrew Porter and then he can expect the fit-again Tadhg Furlong, up there among the best tightheads in the world, to come into the fray. The scrum is an area of the game in which Wales must at least get parity to stand any chance of winning.

DAN LYDIATE v PETER O’MAHONY

Expect fireworks as two Grand Masters of the back row arts go head to head. ‘Dan the Man’ is back for Wales and his return is fully justified by the way he has been playing for the Ospreys. Don’t worry about the fact he hasn’t played for Wales since 2018, just rejoice in the fact he is back to his best and all set to make a major, physical contribution. The Six Nations player of the tournament in 2012, what he will bring is knowledge, experience and an insatiable appetite for tackling. He needs to be the rock on which all Irish hopes are dashed. If he can get in among the Irish forwards, break up the speed and continuity of their driving game then he could be the man that tames O’Mahony. If not, the Munster monster will go on the rampage with CJ Stander and the game will be up!

Predictions at this stage of the Championship are inevitably filled with more heart than head. Anything seems possible before a ball is kicked. I think Wales could turn things around, but they must get off to a good start. That means beating Ireland, who will surely arrive as big favourites. Let’s see if the mighty can fall.