Four Welsh starters have already been ruled out of next weekend’s trip to Murrayfield.

The Ospreys flanker will feature as Wales launch their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Cardiff.

Dan Lydiate will miss the rest of the season after requiring surgery on a bicep injury.

Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau have already been ruled out for the Welsh ahead of the tournament.

Damage to his anterior cruciate ligament means the Wales flanker will require surgery.

Wales may be more concerned about a knee injury to their flanker than their routine win over a sorry South Africa in Cardiff.

The margin of victory would have been even greater had George Ford not missed six of his seven kicks.

Dan Lydiate, Gethin Jenkins and Tyler Morgan all start.

Justin Tipuric replaces Dan Lydiate in the backrow.

Cory Allen is put of the tournament, while Gatland may have to call up a prop.

‘Skills Under Pressure’ looks as hard as it does fun.

Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, Scott williams and Gareth Anscombe have joined Rhys Webb in signing an NDC to stay in Wales

Dan Lydiate is among the Welsh players currently considering one of the new national deals.

With Jonathan Davies injured, North will run from 13 outside of Jamie Roberts.

Jamie Roberts is one Welsh player who might be looking to return from France.

Joe Schmidt’s men showed signs that they had prepared themselves for the Welsh defensive tactics.

The Ireland out-half is looking increasingly frustrated at his team’s stuttering Top 14 season.

Tomorrow night the Lions duo will take on Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon.

The Welsh flanker is hoping the calbre available to the Paris club can push them to success on two fronts.

Cian Healy may be gone but the tour must go on as the Lions come up against Sean Maitland’s cousin, Quade Cooper and the Reds.

The Paris-bound flanker even offered to give Sean O’Brien a hand on the farm, if he needs it.

The Dragons flanker broke his ankle against Edinburgh in September.

Eric Elwood’s side won in Wales for only the second time since 2004, largely thanks to two tries from Fetu’u Vainikolo.

Ireland’s Jonny Sexton was runner-up in the voting for the 2012 Six Nations Player of the Championship.

Jonathan Sexton and Donnacha Ryan will enter the final weekend of this year’s tournament hopeful of claiming a major accolade.

Warren Gatland says prop Gethin Jenkins and fly-half Rhys Priestland are out of the start of the Six Nations campaign.

The Irish media in general seem reasonably confident that Declan Kidney’s side have an excellent chance of progressing, but what about their counterparts across the water?

Rugby or football? Andorra or Wales? Daddy or chips?

James Hook, Shane Williams and Dan Lydiate are all set to win their fitness races for Saturday’s showdown.