It's a huge weekend of sport and the highlight will be Ireland's trip to Cardiff to play Wales at the Principality Stadium to launch the 2021 Six Nations.
It's a must-win fixture for Andy Farrell, seeing as Ireland are generally seen as third-favourites to win the Championship this year. However Ireland have not won a Six Nations game in Cardiff since the day of Simon Zebo's first Six Nations game and that incredible flick, back when Declan Kidney was Ireland coach.
Andy Farrell has opted for an intriguing-looking XV with a very strong bench for the first game of his second Six Nations as Ireland coach.
#TeamOfUs
📄 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🟢
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day 23 for the opening round of the #GuinnessSixNations against Wales in Cardiff 🙌#ShoulderToShoulder #IrishRugby #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/OPv2Abiu2c— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 5, 2021
Farrell has opted to start James Lowe and Keith Earls on the wings, with Hugo Keenan playing fullback. Jordan Larmour starts on the bench.
The injury to Caelan Doris means that Josh van der Flier will start beside Peter O'Mahony and CJ Stander will start in the backrow. Andrew Porter starts over Tadhg Furlong.
Meanwhile Wayne Pivac has revealed the Wales team to start on Sunday. Dan Lydiate is back in the back row while George North starts in the centre.
𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒: Wales side to face @IrishRugby in our 2021 #GuinnessSixNations opener this Sunday ☘️ ⠀
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⏎ 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘺𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘎𝘺𝘮𝘳𝘶 𝘢𝘮 𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘤𝘺𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘧 𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥 2018. ⠀
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🏴 #HWFN pic.twitter.com/tdEONKsBQi— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 5, 2021
SEE ALSO: Eddie O'Sullivan Identifies Ireland Improvements Needed In Wales
