IRELAND HAVE been warned not to be complacent against Wales in their game at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Andy Farrell issued the comments warning that Ireland cannot underestimate Wales despite Ireland being favorites to start the 2022 championship with a home victory.
Ireland were humbled in Cardiff last year in the 2021 Six Nations and lost Peter O'Mahony to a red card and Johnny Sexton to an injury in the first half.
The Six Nations returns this weekend and Andy Farrell's men kick things off against Wales in Dublin 🏉
Coverage is live on UTV from 1.30pm on Saturday.https://t.co/r3uBLpojIq— UTV Live News (@UTVNews) February 4, 2022
Farrell has said that rugby is the be-all and end-all in Wales.
“As far as the Welsh is concerned, it’s everything to them, isn’t it," said Farrell,
"It’s certainly their number one sport, which says it all," added the Ireland boss.
"There’s pride all over the valleys and the whole of the country comes together and there’s an expectation that they drive each other on.
“History shows that the Welsh, no matter what happens, whether their backs are against the wall or not, they always grow another leg in the Six Nations and that won’t change at all this time around.”
In other news Ireland are set to hand Australian born Mack Hansen his debut this weekend. The Connacht winger has been in fine form for his province this year and has been a surprise inclusion.
Farrell said:
“He is a natural footballer. He has played quite a lot of rugby as a 15, maybe something we will look at down the line with him as well. He has played quite a bit at 10 and he is deceptively quick as well. So we're excited to get Mack up and running.”
Dublin , Ireland - 26 January 2022; Mack Hansen during Ireland Rugby squad training at IRFU HPC at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)