Wales v Ireland: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV

By Sporting Life

Rugby Union

Fri March 15, 2019 · 6y ago

Our guide to Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash between Wales and Ireland includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.

Six Nations schedule, TV guide, results, table & history

What time is kick off & what channel is it on?

The match, which takes place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, will start at 1445 GMT on Saturday March 16 and will be screened live on BBC.

Six Nations title permutations

Wales, England and Ireland can all still win the Six Nations going into the weekend. This are the potential permutations.

* Wales will win the Six Nations title and clinch a first Grand Slam for seven years if they beat Ireland in Cardiff.

* If Wales and England finish tied on 20 points, which is quite possible, then Wales will still be crowned champions as Grand Slam winners are automatically awarded three bonus points under Six Nations rules.

* A draw between Wales and Ireland - and England losing to Scotland at Twickenham - would see Wales win the title without a Grand Slam.

* A draw between Wales and Ireland - and England beating Scotland - would see England crowned champions.

* If Ireland beat Wales and England defeat Scotland, then England will be champions.

* If Ireland beat Wales and England lose to Scotland, then Ireland will be champions.

Wales v Ireland: Teams

Wales: L Williams (Saracens); G North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), H Parkes (Scarlets), J Adams (Worcester); G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons). Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), N Smith (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), J Ball (Scarlets), A Wainwright (Dragons), A Davies (Ospreys), D Biggar (Northampton), O Watkin (Ospreys).

Ireland: Jordan Larmour; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; Iain Henderson, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Jack Conan, John Cooney, Jack Carty.

Wales v Ireland: Odds & advice

Wales to win: 4/5
Draw: 20/1
Ireland to win: 21/20

Tony Calvin: "I would go with Wales outright if you need an interest – they have named an unchanged side, and that consistency and familiarity is a massive positive – but I am going to sit tight, given the ante-post positions."

Wales v Ireland: Key quotes

Sam Warburton (Wales): "All these boys are a similar sort of age group, and they are going to be around for two more World Cups.

"We've got fantastic strength in depth at the moment. When have we gone to Italy and made 10 changes, like we did this season, and won?

"We haven't been able to do that in the past. When we won the Grand Slam in 2012 we barely made a team selection change, as we couldn't take the risk.

"That (Italy) game was the biggest game for me - plus the one in the autumn against Tonga (Wales won 74-24).

"Those two games were as significant as any big win we've had in the last 12 months, purely because it truly highlights the strength in depth we do have."

Ross Moriarty (Wales): "We've been building nicely over 13 games (unbeaten), and against Ireland, we won't take a backward step to try and continue the streak.

"They [Ireland] are a good team, and we know what they are capable of.

"Sometimes, people don't see the hard graft, but against Scotland, it showed across the board with all the forwards and all the backs. It was a big heavyweight slog.

"We've had some difficult games in the Six Nations, but we are ready to go again."

Johnny Sexton (Ireland): "I don't know if Wales feel like they're invincible, they're saying that they've forgotten how to lose and all of that.

"They've eked out some results, we've played well against teams that have gone on runs before; New Zealand, England; stopping their runs.

"Again, we'll give them the respect that they absolutely deserve.

"I'm sure there is a lot of pressure on everyone for every international.

"They will be under pressure, but so will we. We want to finish on a high and win a championship."