Warren Gatland has unveiled his Wales squad for the upcoming Six Nations showdown against Ireland, introducing one key change from the team that faced England at Twickenham.
Heading into round three of the Six Nations, Gatland’s strategic decision sees Sam Costelow stepping in at fly-half, replacing Ioan Lloyd in the starting XV. Lloyd, having been on the front lines against England, now takes a spot on the bench for the upcoming clash.
Despite facing defeats in their initial two games, Wales demonstrated resilience and determination in a closely contested match against England, narrowly missing victory by a mere two points. Acknowledging the commendable effort, Gatland has opted to maintain the majority of the lineup, rewarding the players for their performance.
Tomos Williams joins Costelow in the half-backs, while the formidable back three comprises Rio Dyer, Cameron Winnett, and Josh Adams. The midfield is anchored by George North and Nick Tompkins.
In the forward pack, the front row features Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, and Elliot Dee. The second row is led by skipper Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard, with the dynamic loose forward trio consisting of Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, and Aaron Wainwright.
On the bench, Dillon Lewis makes an appearance as a replacement following Archie Griffin’s injury against England. Cardiff Rugby’s Mackenzie Martin steps in for Taine Basham, who has been released from the squad.
The highly anticipated clash against Ireland is scheduled for 2:15 pm on Saturday, February 24, at the iconic Aviva Stadium in Dublin. For live updates on the team announcement, be sure to stay tuned.
Wales XV:
- Cameron Winnett
- Rio Dyer
- George North
- Nick Tompkins
- Josh Adams
- Sam Costelow
- Tomos Williams
- Gareth Thomas
- Elliot Dee
- Keiron Assiratti
- Dafydd Jenkins (c)
- Adam Beard
- Alex Mann
- Tommy Reffell
- Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
- Ryan Elias
- Corey Domachowski
- Dillon Lewis
- Will Rowlands
- Mackenzie Martin
- Kieran Hardy
- Ioan Lloyd
- Mason Grady
