LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb
WALES FLY-HALF Sam Costelow has been recalled to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.
The Scarlets number 10 went off because of a neck problem suffered when Wales were beaten 27-26 by opening Six Nations opponents Scotland.
He was replaced by Ioan Lloyd, who started at fly-half in the Twickenham appointment with England, but Costelow now returns as a solitary change from that game.
🏴 𝐗𝐕 𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐑𝐔 🏴
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 20, 2024
👊 The Welsh team to take on Ireland
⚔️ Un newid i geisio gorchfygu'r Gwyddelod#SixNationsRugby | #IrelandWeek pic.twitter.com/smWXiTqkmi
Elsewhere, there are further starts for squad newcomers Cameron Winnett and Alex Mann, while centre George North wins his 120th cap and is only the third Wales player to reach that mark after Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
Uncapped Cardiff back-row forward Mackenzie Martin, meanwhile, features on the replacements’ bench.
The 20-year-old is in his first full season of professional rugby and has made just nine Cardiff appearances, but he is now set to make a Test debut at the Aviva Stadium.
Other changes on the bench from Twickenham see Lloyd and Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis both included.
Wales have not won a Six Nations encounter in Dublin since 2012, drawing one and losing four of the subsequent meetings.
They face a Herculean task against opponents fresh from posting bonus-point victories over France and Italy in pursuit of successive Grand Slams.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: “We are excited to go out to Dublin and test ourselves against one of the leading sides in world rugby. It is a challenge we are relishing.
Rob Howley, Wales assistant coach, said visitors to Dublin will try to create rugby chaos.
“The challenge for us is making them as uncomfortable as we can, for every minute that we can do that, and ask different questions of them,” Howley said.
“I think if we can be comfortable in a chaos game and challenge them, because they are very well organised. We need to create chaos. Everyone reacts differently under pressure.
“We have to be able to create pressure on both sides of the ball on Saturday, for 80 of those one-minute games. If we can do that, it is 23 against 23 at the end of the day.
“It is our ability to create pressure on both sides of the ball, our ability to be clinical when we need to be. There might only be two or three opportunities, and we have to be clinical and ruthless.
Howley, who served as Wales attack coach from 2008 to 2019, is back involved with the national squad this season following his ban for breaching betting regulations.
He was forced to step back from the game in the build up to the 2019 World Cup when his betting activity came to light, resulting in an 18-month ban from rugby, half of which was suspended.
“I am so grateful to the coaches, and Warren (Wales head coach Warren Gatland) in particular, to think of me and bring me back into the fold,” Howley said.
“Every time I’ve been out with my family, it is the first time my girls have smiled for a pretty long time. The public have been fantastic in terms of what they have said to me.
“I am so lucky and glad to be back in a role I have loved for a long period of time.”
Wales (v Ireland)
- 15. C Winnett
- 14. J Adams
- 13. G North
- 12. N Tompkins
- 11. R Dyer
- 10. S Costelow
- 9. T Williams
- 1. G Thomas
- 2. E Dee
- 3. K Assiratti
- 4. D Jenkins
- 5. A Beard
- 6. A Mann
- 7. T Reffell
- 8. A Wainwright
Replacements:
- 16. R Elias
- 17. C Domachowski
- 18. D Lewis
- 19. W Rowlands
- 20. M Martin
- 21. K Hardy
- 22. I Lloyd
- 23. M Grady
