Six Nations 2025: Wales v Ireland preview, kick-off time, team news, BBC TV coverage & match facts
Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Wales v Ireland
Venue: Principality Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1315 GMT & S4C, listen live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Radio Ulster; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app
Overview
Wales begin life after Warren Gatland attempting to arrest their alarming slump into rugby’s deepest doldrums when they face Grand Slam-chasing Ireland in Cardiff in round three of the Men’s Six Nations.
Gatland left his role as head coach after Wales fell to a record-extending 14th successive Test loss in round two against Italy.
He has been replaced on a temporary basis by Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt, whose immediate task is to take on an Irish team attempting to become the first to win three successive outright titles in the 142-year history of this championship.
The visitors have won their opening two matches against England and Scotland in dominant fashion and start as overwhelming favourites to win a 14th Triple Crown.
Wales team news
Gareth Anscombe makes a first Six Nations start since 2019 in one of eight changes, partnering Tomos Williams for only the second time in this tournament.
Ellis Mee makes his debut on the wing in the place of the injured Josh Adams; he was playing in the English Championship last season.
It’s a first cap in three years for WillGriff John, who makes his Six Nations debut aged 32. He is joined by Nicky Smith and Elliot Dee in a new-look front row, while Dafydd Jenkins returns after missing Rome due to illness.
Max Llewellyn makes his Six Nations debut and Tommy Reffell is also recalled.
Wales: 15-Murray, 14- Rogers, 13-Llewellyn, 12-B Thomas, 11-Mee; 10-Anscombe, 9-T Williams; 1-N Smith, 2-Dee, 3-John, 4-Rowlands, 5-Jenkins, 6-Morgan (capt), 7-Reffell, 8-Faletau.
Replacements: 16-E Lloyd, 17-G Thomas, 18-H Thomas, 19-Teddy Williams, 20-Wainwright, 21- R Williams, 22-J Evans, 23-Roberts.
Captain Morgan on initiation punishments and famous relatives
Ireland team news
Ireland make seven changes, with Dan Sheehan captaining the side for the first time in the absence of Caelan Doris, who misses out with a knee injury.
Sheehan replaces the injured Ronan Kelleher at hooker, while Jack Conan comes in for Doris at eight.
Prop Thomas Clarkson makes a first Test start, Jamie Osborne wins a first Six Nations cap at 15, Mack Hansen returns from injury and Garry Ringrose is preferred to Bundee Aki.
Joe McCarthy is also recalled following injury, with James Ryan, Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki dropping to the bench.
Uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle is included in a matchday squad for the first time.
Ireland: 15-Osborne, 14-Hansen, 13-Ringrose, 12-Henshaw, 11-Lowe; 10-S Prendergast, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan (capt), 3-Clarkson, 4-J McCarthy, 5- Beirne, 6-O’Mahony, 7-Van der Flier, 8-Conan.
Replacements: 16-G McCarthy, 17-Boyle, 18-Bealham, 19-Ryan (Leinster), 20-C Prendergast, 21-Murray, 22-Crowley, 23-Aki.
View from both camps
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt on making eight changes: “There’s numerous reasons like a couple of little injury doubts. And then my mindset coming in was to enjoy it and do it my way. Some of the selections are towards that.
“Ireland are cohesive. They’re very Leinster-heavy and have been together a long time. So it’s important to pick a team that had some familiarity with 9-10-12-13. I don’t think Ireland is a time to experiment.”
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby on being linked with a permanent role with Wales: “Of course there’s been speculation but that’s all there is speculation, I’m not in control of that.
“I love it here, I’m very fortunate with the people I get to work with here. For me, it’s a dream job.
“Right now this is my only focus, whatever happens in the future, in a year’s time I could lose my job and in sport it’s very fluid.
“I’ve had no contact with the WRU, for me it’s all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday and making sure me and the team prepare the team the right way.”
Andrew Cotter: “Interim coach or not, Matt Sherratt has stamped his own mark on a radically-altered Wales side. Players overlooked by Warren Gatland get their chance, such as Anscombe returning at fly-half and the powerful young Gloucester centre Llewellyn. Not to mention the debutant Mee starting on the wing.
“The visitors have made plenty of their own changes, among them the loss of captain Doris to injury.
“But the strength of the Irish squad and system is such that rotation of component parts doesn’t seem to weaken the whole machine.
“Can a home side in upheaval really contain an Irish side going for a third successive title and a Triple Crown here? Wales have suffered on their travels so far – how badly they need the lift that Cardiff, under the roof, could provide.”
Dominant Ireland beat a disappointing Scotland at Murrayfield
Match facts
Head-to-head
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Ireland have won seven of their last eight Tests against Wales, including the last three in a row by margins of more than 20 points.
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Their 34-10 win in 2023 ended a run of four Six Nations defeats in Cardiff.
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Simon Easterby’s side can win consecutive Six Nations matches in Wales for the first time in 16 years.
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Ireland have outscored Wales by four tries to one in each of the three most recent Six Nations meetings.
Wales
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Wales could lose nine successive matches for the first time in the championship’s history.
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Wales have lost 14 of their last 15 Six Nations matches, including their last eight in a row.
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Fourteen successive Test defeats extends the worst losing run in their 144-year history.
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Their most recent victory was a 43-19 Rugby World Cup triumph over Georgia in October 2023.
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Wales have scored 15 points in their two matches so far– their lowest-ever tally after two rounds of the Six Nations.
Ireland
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Ireland have won 18 of their last 20 Six Nations matches, averaging 4.1 tries per game and securing 14 try bonus points.
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They are bidding to become the first nation to win three successive outright titles in the championship’s history. It is a feat that has only been previously achieved including shared titles.
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However, Simon Easterby’s side have lost two of their last four Tests away from home.
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They have recorded just 47% possession across their opening two games, the least of any nation other than Italy, but have still recorded the most territory (56%) and most opposition 22 entries 22 (22).
