Ireland v Wales - your guide to the Six Nations game

Ireland attempt to secure part two of a Triple Crown in Dublin on Friday night while Wales hunt an upset in their bid to avoid a third successive Six Nations wooden spoon.

With batteries recharged thanks to a fallow week in the new tournament schedule, the round four fixtures start at Aviva Stadium where the hosts will expect to build on their stunning success against England.

Andy Farrell's side lifted the Triple Crown trophy in Cardiff last year and will hope to do the same in Dublin after hosting Scotland next weekend.

Wales travel buoyed by a spirited showing against the Scots, but have still lost 14 straight in the Six Nations.

Steve Tandy's side are huge underdogs with few expecting them to end the streak before their final weekend fixture against Italy in Cardiff.

The match kicks off at 20:10 GMT and 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.

The commentary will also be available on the BBC Sport website where you can follow blow-by-blow action with our live text commentary.

The match is being televised on ITV1 and S4C.

For all the build-up and analysis, follow the rugby union section on the BBC Sport website.

Wales named their team on Wednesday morning and were without injured flanker Taine Plumtree and fly-half Sam Costelow.

Steve Tandy recalled Dan Edwards to start while Ellis Mee is back on the wing at Gabriel Hamer-Webb's expense.

James Botham impressed off the bench against the Scots and was given the back-row nod in Plumtree's absence.

Farrell has made five Ireland changes from the big win against England.

In the backline, Jacob Stockdale has got the nod to replace the injured James Lowe on the left wing.

In the pack, prop Tom O'Toole and hooker Ronan Kelleher are handed starts in the front row, while Jack Conan and Nick Timoney come into the back row.

There's a change in the second row as Tadhg Beirne shifts forward from flanker and Joe McCarthy drops to the bench.

Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak is named on the bench and will make his Ireland debut.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O'Toole, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nathan Doak, Tom Farrell, Ciaran Frawley.

Wales: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (capt), Tomas Francis, Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Alex Mann, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Louie Hennessey.

Ireland and Wales lock horns every year but it has not been green versus red since 2024.

The change is not for marketing reasons, it is part of a World Rugby directive due to colour blindness.

Their guidelines became policy for tournaments from 1 January, 2025 and distinguishing between red and green is problematic for those affected by colour vision deficiency.

Ireland wore white in Cardiff last season and it is Wales' turn to change in Dublin.

Tandy's men will be in the white jerseys, black shorts and white socks that they pulled on in the autumn victory against Japan at Principality Stadium.

English referee Karl Dickson will be in charge of Friday's game.

The former Harlequins scrum-half will be joined by assistant referees Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Damian Schneider (Argentina).

England's Andrew Jackson is the TMO while France's Tual Trainini is in charge of the foul play review process (FPRO).

There was some grumbling when Ireland were comprehensively outplayed by France in round one after autumn defeats by New Zealand and South Africa.

A home win against an impressive Italy was followed by a stunning success against England in London.

Ireland won every department when racking up a record away win against the English, running in tries by Jamison Gibson-Park, Robert Baloucoune, Tommy O'Brien, Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osborne.

Wales' troubles are well documented and it is now 24 defeats in 26 internationals - with both wins coming against Japan - and 14 straight losses in the Six Nations.

There was encouragement from the performance against Scotland when the visitors only hit the front in the 74th minute.

Ireland are hunting a fifth straight win against Wales, a run that goes back to the 2021 fixture behind closed doors at Principality Stadium in 2021.

That success ended a four-game Irish streak that went back to the 2019 Six Nations.

Wales have not won in Dublin since a World Cup warm-up in 2015, while their last Six Nations success was in 2012 courtesy of Leigh Halfpenny's last-gasp penalty.

Wales produced an encouraging performance when beaten 27-18 in Cardiff last year when interim coach Matt Sherratt was calling the shots after the exit of Warren Gatland.

The last meeting in Dublin was a comprehensive 31-7 victory for Ireland, when Dan Sheehan, Lowe, Tadhg Beirne and Ciaran Frawley scored tries.

Wales' defence has been cause for concern - England, France and Scotland all won with bonus points - and they will hope to avoid a repeat of the 2002 trip to Dublin.

That fixture at Lansdowne Road remains the record for points scored by Ireland (54) and their largest winning margin (44).