Ireland vs Wales live: Latest score and updates as hosts bid to keep Six Nations hopes alive in Dublin – UK Times

Captain Caelan Doris insists Ireland are “nowhere near” realising their full potential as they chase the minimum of the Triple Crown following a record win away to England.

Andy Farrell’s side retain an outside chance of reclaiming the Six Nations title ahead of back-to-back home games against Wales and Scotland.

Following a deflating opening defeat to table-topping France in Paris and a narrow Dublin victory over Italy, Ireland silenced their critics with a thumping 42-21 bonus-point success at Twickenham in round three.

“Obviously there’s a positive feeling after a good performance like that but it’s about the bigger picture, really, and it’s about continuing to grow,” said Doris ahead of the clash with Wales.

“We know we’re nowhere near our potential as a team and there’s a lot of hard work to be put in, and there’s a long journey for us to go on still.

“It was back to hard work, back to the learnings from the game, of which there were some, as well as some good stuff. It’s just about building on it.

“We’ve got a pretty clear plan of where we want to go in terms of structures and the way we want to play and it’s about chasing that down week on week.”

Andy Farrell expects to hold talks about his future as Ireland head coach in the “near future” following reports linking him with Saracens.

The Gallagher Prem club last week dismissed claims they had offered the 50-year-old a coaching role for after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, branding them “disrespectful”.

Farrell, who is preparing for Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations match at home to Wales on Friday evening, was a Sarries player between 2005 and 2009 and also began his coaching career there.

His son – former England captain Owen Farrell – is back playing with the English side following a brief spell with French club Racing 92.

Farrell succeeded Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach in 2019 and signed a new “long-term” deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in December 2023 to continue until next year’s World Cup in Australia.

“I mean, you’d expect me to say that I’m here to just concentrate on the Six Nations and what will be, will be in the future,” he said of the links to Saracens.

“But I suppose it’s people (putting) two and two together and making five with the connections: good friends with the owner, Owen’s there, all of that.

“You can see why that’s happened but I suppose we’ll sit down and have discussions with the IRFU in the near future, that’s for sure.”

Ireland have in the last week or so had to deal with questions over the future of Andy Farrell, who has been strongly linked with Saracens:

Eddie James says Wales will take a front-foot approach against Ireland, despite being Six Nations underdogs.

Wales are looking to end a run of 14 straight Six Nations defeats in Dublin tonight.

Steve Tandy’s side are bottom of the Championship after three rounds of matches, while Ireland revived title hopes after racking up their highest-ever points tally at Allianz Stadium with a stunning 42-21 victory over England.

“We don’t go into any game thinking we can’t win,” said Scarlets centre James.

“That’s not the mindset to have in any professional sport. We’re definitely going there to put our best foot forward and have a go at them.

“Ireland are a top side, they’ve got threats everywhere and are a well-drilled team. But for us it’s building from our performance against Scotland and trying to implement that into Ireland. It’s going to be a big ask, but one we’re looking forward to.”

Assistant coach Paul O’Connell insists Ireland will not be sidetracked by talk of a potential triple crown following the jubilation of a historic win over England.

Andy Farrell’s side return to Six Nations action at home to winless Wales on Friday evening after celebrating a record 42-21 victory at Twickenham in round three.

Ireland, who retain an outside chance of winning the championship title, will then take on Scotland in Dublin next Saturday.

“I think particularly after a good result against England, you just want to focus on the next game and the next thing, and even the next training session really is what the lads were talking about,” O’Connell told reporters on Monday.

“It’s only about getting better from the last performance, even though it was a good result.

“There’s plenty of things we have to improve on and that’s been the sole focus. We haven’t discussed trophies or silverware or anything like that.

“We might. I think we always come into a campaign trying to win it and we don’t shy away from it. I’m sure Andy has a meeting tomorrow, he might mention it, I don’t know.

“Really, the focus for us as coaches and players has just been about getting set for the Welsh game.”

Wales have made three changes, including the return of fly half Dan Edwards, as they bid to end their Six Nations losing streak in Ireland on Friday.

Back-rower James Botham replaces the injured Taine Plumtree to make his first start in this season’s tournament, with Alex Mann switching to blindside flanker to accommodate his Cardiff colleague.

Fly half Edwards, who started the opening two games against England and France before being dropped, comes back in for the injured Sam Costelow.

Ireland back-rower Nick Timoney will make his first Six Nations start as part of five personnel changes for Friday evening’s round-four clash with Wales in Dublin.

The 30-year-old Ulster player replaces Josh van der Flier at openside flanker following impressive cameos in the opening defeat to France and subsequent victories over Italy and England.

Jack Conan, who was a late withdrawal from the bench ahead of the 42-21 bonus-point win at Twickenham on 21 February due to illness, is recalled at blindside flanker, while loosehead prop Tom O’Toole and hooker Ronan Kelleher also come into the forward pack.

Jacob Stockdale replaces the injured James Lowe on the left wing in the only alteration to the backline.

A famous Six Nations rivalry renews again in Dublin with Ireland and Wales set for battle under the Friday night lights. For the hosts, this is a chance to further their title hopes and put the pressure on France (and Scotland) before the pair meet at Murrayfield tomorrow. For Wales? Well, victory may feel a long shot but there were huge positives to take from their last outing in Cardiff, and they are confident they can mix it with Ireland tonight.

Kick off at the Aviva Stadium is at 8.10pm GMT.