Final preparations.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Tandy speaking pre-match on S4C - "I'm expecting us to learn from the Scotland game and build on this game tonight.

"Ireland have been together a long time, they’ve got a lot of consistency with their clubs and a huge opportunity for us to perform"

Image source, Getty Images

Dewi Lake believes Wales can play on the status of being written off by almost everybody.

"That's probably our favourite place to be really, the underdog," said Lake. "Being Welsh, we've always loved that, nobody giving us an opportunity.

"Nobody gave us an opportunity last round and we showed what we could do.

"I know ultimately we didn't come away with a result but that game has given us belief.

"That's only going to carry the momentum of this squad through this weekend."

Lake says he has the ultimate respect for Ireland and the Dublin venue where he made his Wales international debut in 2022.

"They're one of the top teams in the world," said Lake. "They're always a great team and so we're excited to go and play them.

"Any time you play an Ireland team you expect tight, attacking shapes. The backs are deadly and they've got a couple of players in-form at the minute, Stuart McCloskey's playing unbelievably well."

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Last year, Ulster only had three players in the entire Six Nations squad and none in the matchday 23 to take on Wales.

Now, 12 months on, Ulster's improved form means there are five players in the starting XV, and another two on the bench.

Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune and Stuart McCloskey are in the back line, while Tom O'Toole and Nick Timoney are in the pack.

Hooker Tom Stewart is on the bench, while scrum-half Nathan Doak is set to make his debut when introduced.

What an upturn for Richie Murphy's side.

Image source, BBC Sport

Twenty three defeats, two wins.

Wales' international record since the start of the 2024 Six Nations does not make for pretty reading.

BBC Sounds

You have a choice of listening for tonight's game.

There will be live audio commentary on BBC Sounds via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and Radio Ulster.

You can find them all on BBC Sounds, or at the top of this page.

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Ireland coach and Welshman Aled Walters speaking on S4C - "The Irish are very similar to the Welsh, the love of rugby and the banter.

"We (Ireland) did expect that performance against England but not to that magnitude, we knew we had it in us but woah.

"The Ireland v Wales games have that little bit extra special, the performances for Wales have been getting better and everyone wants to see Wales do better.

"Sometimes things work out, sometimes things don’t work out. I’m not saying who I’m supporting."

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Pinning up derogatory comments on the dressing room wall as motivation might not inspire rugby sides in the way it used to. Professional sport has become more refined.

But any Welsh player catching a clip of Trimble, Dornan and Irish comedian Vittorio Angelone laughing uncontrollably, taking the mickey out of Wales with cutting comments about the state of Welsh rugby, will surely feel wounded, even it was meant as banter.

Dornan, the star of the Fifty Shades of Grey film, admitted the current plight of Welsh rugby broke his heart.

He told a story of how one of his best friends from Wales was happy with being competitive for 74 minutes in the 26-23 defeat against Scotland.

This display was Wales' most impressive of the Tandy era and has given Welsh supporters some small hope things will improve soon.

Clinging on to some green shoots of recovery is perhaps indication for some of how low Welsh rugby has sunk.

Former Ulster wing Trimble said: "They are so bad we actually feel sorry for them, we don't even slag them. Let's do them a favour and slag them."

Welsh fans will excuse Trimble and co for not doing them that favour. They do not require the pity, if that is what this is.

"There has been a lot of sympathy towards us, which is not nice," former Wales centre Tom Shanklin told BBC Scrum V.

"People feel sorry for us but they must remember Wales have been a massive part of this tournament and helped create it to the level it is now."

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

One thing Welsh rugby does not want is pity or derision.

Times have been tough in recent years and the game in Wales has been in disarray on and off the field.

Despite this, Welsh rugby does not expect to be laughed as they face Ireland on Friday in another Six Nations date.

That is exactly what happened this week in an Irish podcast involving former international Andrew Trimble and Hollywood actor Jamie Dornan, with the pair deriding Welsh rugby.

Steve Tandy's side will have the chance to make them eat their words under the Friday night lights in Dublin.

Not many will give the visitors a hope against an Irish side who hammered England in a record away victory.

But this is an opportunity for captain Dewi Lake and his players to prove Wales are no laughing matter on the world stage.

The internal damaging divisions in Welsh rugby are evident and the negative external opinions of the game in Wales that have emerged across the rugby world must be addressed.

A 50 Shades of Grey actor causing outrage in an entire nation wasn't on my 2026 bingo card, but here we go.

Was it disrespectful or just a bit of banter? Strap in, folks.

Image source, BBC Sport

We're moving closer to kick off and we want to hear from you.

What are you predictions for this one?

Can Wales stun Ireland in their own back yard, or will Ireland be too strong?

Let us know what you think using 'Get Involved'.

Scott Williams
Wales centre on BBC Radio Cymru

Ireland are so difficult to beat at home, they’re such a tight tuned team which they have proven over the years.

But maybe in the last nine to six months they’ve not been at their best but they definitely proved everyone wrong against England two weeks ago.

When things click with them they're dangerous, Wales have to be physical and they really took a step forward against Scotland, but today will be a real test for them.

Image source, Getty Images

No wonder Jamison Gibson-Park is smiling, he'll win his 50th Ireland cap tonight.

What a player he has been for Ireland over the years.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium

Nick Timoney's inclusion comes as no surprise.

He has been one of Ulster's standout players for years and has not put a foot wrong when called upon by Ireland recently.

He scored a try when he started in the autumn win over Japan, and while that was not enough for him to keep his place, his form off the bench in the Six Nations has been impossible to ignore.

A quick and direct runner, the former Sevens player is now in a position where he can really elbow his way into the back row conversation for next year's World Cup.

Image source, BBC Sport

When the Irish team was announced on Wednesday, the biggest debate seemed to be over who should start on the left wing to replace the injured James Lowe.

Jacob Stockdale, who started against France in the opener, got the nod over Tommy O'Brien, who impressed off the bench against England.

Here's how the stats stack up between them. Did Andy Farrell make the right call?

Ireland Rugby

Nick Timoney has been handed his first Six Nations start as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell makes five changes to his XV for tonight's game.

The Ulster back row has been rewarded by Farrell after making an impact off the bench in the games against France, Italy and England.

Timoney, 30, is one of two changes to the back row as Jack Conan is recalled after he missed the emphatic win over England at Allianz Stadium because of illness, meaning Tadhg Beirne shifts to the second row.

Farrell has also made two changes to the front row with Ulster's Tom O'Toole replacing the injured Jeremy Loughman at loose-head prop and Ronan Kelleher recalled at hooker.

In the only change to the backline, Jacob Stockdale replaces the injured James Lowe on the left wing.

Stockdale started Ireland's defeat by France in Paris at full-back, but despite Tommy O'Brien's excellent performance off the bench against England, Farrell has given the 2018 player of the tournament another chance to nail down a starting berth.

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; Crowley, Gibson-Park; O'Toole, Kelleher, Furlong, Ryan, Beirne, Conan, Timoney, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Stewart, Milne, Clarkson, McCarthy, Van der Flier, Doak, Farrell, Frawley.

Ireland Rugby Social
Listen on BBC Sounds

With three Six Nations titles, two Grand Slams and a starring role in a British and Irish Lions tour, Wales legend Jamie Roberts built an impressive portfolio of memories before he hung up his boots in 2022.

It just so happened that one of his fondest and one of his most harrowing rugby experiences came against Ireland.

Although it is now 16 years on, his recollections of the 2009 Six Nations remain vivid. Then only 22 and a year into his international career, Roberts came off the bench in Wales' 17-15 loss to Ireland that sealed a first Irish Grand Slam in 61 years.

"I think the majority of my memories against Ireland have been bad," Roberts told the Ireland Rugby Social.

"The Slam game in Cardiff, ROG [Ronan O'Gara] hit a drop-goal in minute 77. It was a big moment in my career seeing another team parading the trophy around your stadium.

"It came early in my career. I was only 22 and I remember that and it hurt so much that it actually motivated me quite a bit. I was like, 'I never, ever want to feel that again' of an opposing team parading the trophy around your stadium."

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

There were some concerns earlier in the week about the fitness of Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright after he missed training last week with a leg injury.

The good news for Wales fans is that Wainwright is out there warming up.

And that is good news for Wales with Wainwright being the best player in the first three Six Nations defeats.

Ian Gough
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

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Dewi Lake is a top bloke, he’s done some horrendous post-match interviews and every time he's done it with grace, he’s taken it on the chin, he’s honest and humble.

He backs it up with his performance and his work off the field also, and that is crucial for an inexperienced team that Wales have.