Wales head coach Steve Tandy has reshuffled his squad with three strategic changes for the upcoming Six Nations showdown against Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. The alterations include the return of Dan Edwards as fly-half in place of the injured Sam Costelow and a shift in the back-row following Taine Plumtree's shoulder injury.
Edwards, who was previously dropped for the Scotland game, will reprise his role wearing the number 10 jersey and partner with veteran scrum-half Tomos Williams. The backline remains robust with Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams holding their positions at full-back and left wing, while Ellis Mee replaces Gabriel Hamer-Webb on the right flank. The centre field sees Eddie James and Joe Hawkins continue their partnership.
In the pack, James Botham steps up from the bench to replace Plumtree, joining Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back-row. The rest of the forwards remain unchanged with Ben Carter and Dafydd Jenkins as locks and a front-row trio of captain Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, and Rhys Carre.
"There are a couple of enforced changes this week due to injury and then Ellis had played well in the opening couple of rounds, so we feel he deserves the opportunity again," explained Tandy.
On the bench, Louie Hennessey is poised for his international debut, adding fresh energy alongside seasoned reserves like Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell. The team's strategic reserves maintain a balanced five/three forwards/backs split, ensuring readiness for any in-game shifts.
"This week it’s about backing up the performance against Scotland. Going away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game," Tandy noted, emphasizing the need for defensive solidity against Ireland's robust ball possession.
As Wales aims to snap a disheartening 14-match losing streak in the Six Nations, Tandy's refreshed lineup and tactical tweaks might just be the catalyst they need for a turnaround. The stage is set for an intense battle in Dublin, where Wales will not only fight for victory but also for redemption.
Wales team to take on Ireland:
Wales: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre
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Wales head coach Steve Tandy has reshuffled his squad with three strategic changes for the upcoming Six Nations showdown against Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. The alterations include the return of Dan Edwards as fly-half in place of the injured Sam Costelow and a shift in the back-row following Taine Plumtree's shoulder injury.
Edwards, who was previously dropped for the Scotland game, will reprise his role wearing the number 10 jersey and partner with veteran scrum-half Tomos Williams. The backline remains robust with Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams holding their positions at full-back and left wing, while Ellis Mee replaces Gabriel Hamer-Webb on the right flank. The centre field sees Eddie James and Joe Hawkins continue their partnership.
In the pack, James Botham steps up from the bench to replace Plumtree, joining Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back-row. The rest of the forwards remain unchanged with Ben Carter and Dafydd Jenkins as locks and a front-row trio of captain Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, and Rhys Carre.
"There are a couple of enforced changes this week due to injury and then Ellis had played well in the opening couple of rounds, so we feel he deserves the opportunity again," explained Tandy.
On the bench, Louie Hennessey is poised for his international debut, adding fresh energy alongside seasoned reserves like Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell. The team's strategic reserves maintain a balanced five/three forwards/backs split, ensuring readiness for any in-game shifts.
"This week it’s about backing up the performance against Scotland. Going away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game," Tandy noted, emphasizing the need for defensive solidity against Ireland's robust ball possession.
As Wales aims to snap a disheartening 14-match losing streak in the Six Nations, Tandy's refreshed lineup and tactical tweaks might just be the catalyst they need for a turnaround. The stage is set for an intense battle in Dublin, where Wales will not only fight for victory but also for redemption.
Wales team to take on Ireland:
Wales: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Louie Hennessey
Date: Friday, March 6
Kick-off: 20:10 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)