Ireland will be aiming to keep the pressure on leaders France by securing a big win over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Friday in round four of the Six Nations.
To Win
Ireland | Draw | Wales
Handicap
Ireland | Wales
Match context
Ireland emphatically silenced their doubters in the third round after delivering a dominant all-round display to crush Steve Borthwick’s much-fancied England side 42-21 in London and keep themselves in the hunt for the title.
After their dreadful start to the tournament in Paris, coupled with their underwhelming Autumn Nations campaign, many were quick to write off Andy Farrell and his ageing squad.
And while question marks still undoubtedly linger around the composition of the Irish setup, they showed against the Roses that they aren’t finished just yet and are still capable of producing in the biggest of Tests.
Far less will be demanded of the Emerald Isle this week against the Welsh, and anything less than a full house of log points would be catastrophic given they currently occupy third overall and sit six-points behind the unbeaten French. With a home tie against the Scottish lying in wait in the final round, a bonus point win is a non-negotiable if they’re to keep their slender title hopes alive.
On the other side of the fence, Wales will look to channel the positives of their heartbreaking recent defeat to Scotland into this one after they led for over 70-minutes, and by as many as 11-points in the third quarter of that clash before ultimately succumbing to a 23-26 defeat.
As devastating a result as that was for the Dragons, they have little choice but to pick themselves back up and fight on, with Steve Tandy and his coaching staff surely having identified some areas in the Irish game they could target as they brace for this challenge against a side which they’ve beaten just once in their last nine attempts.
Players to watch
Stuart McCloskey (Ireland)
The perennially underrated McCloskey has been one of Ireland’s players of the championship thus far and was an absolute menace in the big win over England in the previous round. His hard carrying and tireless defensive work, notably in tracking down a runaway Marcus Smith and putting in a tremendous try-saving hit on the Harlequins man with less than 10-minutes left on the clock.
Although Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw have both returned to the squad, the continuity that the in-form McCloskey offers Ireland right now is too good to pass up, and he is likely to have another big outing against a sometimes haphazard Welsh defensive system.
Eddie James (Wales)
Set to face off against McCloskey in the midfield is the 23-year-old James, who has inarguably been one of Wales’s very best so far in 2026. At 1.93m and 110kg, the Scarlets man possesses plenty of physical might and muscle and is being primed to be one of his embattled nation’s most central figures in their continued quest to build a solid foundation for the future of their game.
Based on what we saw from him against Scotland, expect James to cause Ireland problems when he gets close to the action on Friday.
Tactical overview
Both sides will be heading into this one struggling with injuries, though the lack of depth in the Welsh camp means their absentees are likely to be more keenly felt than those of Ireland.
The visitors have lost flyhalf Sam Costelow after he injured his ankle against Scotland, with either Dan Edwards or Jarrod Evans in line to take over. In a backline already grappling with a lack of synchronicity, this latest setback will certainly be a blow for Tandy, who must also seek out a replacement for crocked loose forward Taine Plumtree.
For Ireland, though they have welcomed back Aki, Henshaw and Jimmy O’Brien to their squad, the loss of James Lowe out wide will hamper their efforts after the winger was ruled out of the remainder of the competition.
Still, the home side should have no problem outclassing their Welsh rivals in most departments come match day, with their trademark passing game, orchestrated by an in-form Jamison Gibson-Park, likely to wreak havoc on the opposition defence.
If Wales show any more lapses in concentration, as they did in allowing Finn Russell and Darcy Graham to combine and score a brilliantly last time out, they will again be punished by an even more ruthless Ireland outfit still in the running for the title.
Prediction
Ireland to dominate proceedings and ease to a big win over the Welshmen.
