Ireland v Wales Six Nations Rugby

The second we take -- weekend of the championship rings are adhered to

Dublin and Edinburgh. The snowdrops are right. It is a home

International championship today affectively, taking Wales to Dublin

also. We had some questions answered but left a lot more hanging in the

air. The heat is still contained. Nothing

has yet gone wrong, nothing can go wrong. The huddle is compact, limbs

intact, calls and coats exact. Go out there and play well.

Now, the heat is released. And there will be mistakes, but what is

torment for some is a dream start for others.

The flame flares and the heat rises one last time. And falls. Three away

games last, three home games one. Remember, my beauties, this has only

just begun. They always say it is important to

get off to a good start. Ireland, Wales, and France have their noses

in front. The forecast here is not very good.

A soggy pitch. After a trip to Dublin for a Celtic confrontation

that these days has assumed the mantle of the biggest rivalry in

northern hemisphere rugby, we are in Dublin.

Brian O'Driscoll left out. I just think it is a terrible mistake.

Dramatic, controversial. It has been a belter! Not long enough!

A bit of extra spice in this one? I think so.

No Oscars on offer today but plenty at stake. Warren Gatland arrives

knowing he will not be popular. The only coach to have dropped Brian

O'Driscoll in his professional career. His side have won two of

their last 36 Nations matches and those victories led to Grand Slams

ultimately. Ireland will feel this is their year also. They had a

comfortable win six days ago and Brian O'Driscoll is motivated today.

Welcome to Dublin. Blue skies here but there is a storm brewing on and

off the pitch. Who better to talk about it than two legends of the Six

Nations, Keith Wood and Jonathan Davies. We heard you say it was a

terrible mistake for Gatlin to have dropped O'Driscoll but he had to

make tough choices and he was vindicated, why isn't -- wasn't he?

Well, the Lions won. But is in the past and it is not relevant today.

Everyone wants to talk about it but something else is relevant. Wales

has been on the charm offensive all week, Jonathan, seeking to defuse

rather than inflame this guide Mac. Why? It has been a lousy summer and

what's done is done. Today is a massive game. I'm really looking

forward to it. It doesn't need extra spice. It has been spicy for the

last ten years! It will be massive today. It is very difficult to pick

a winner, they are so close. Does this have the feel of a championship

decider to you? It is too early, but the level of expectation for this

game is phenomenal. We are both saying this is the sort of game we

want to play in. The huge intensity and pressure we know we'll hassle

and in a little while and it puts a lot of pressure on a lot of people

-- it will happen in a little while. The Wales coach has been speaking to

Sonia McLaughlin. You had a slightly bruising build-up

in the media. Do you expect this to follow suit? I knocked my head

coming out of the coach! I don't think it has been bruising in terms

of the media. A lot of people have tried to get the players to bite and

get the coach is to bite. Get Brian and myself to bite. The whole

message for everyone in both camps is concentrate on the game. That is

more important. That is what we have focused on and Ireland too. Are you

worried about the reaction you might get here from Island fans? Not at

all. I have been overwhelmed by the hospitality shown over the last

couple of days. The Irish public have been brilliant. One of the

things about Irish crowds is that they are the most respectful in

world rugby in the respect they give for kickers when they take shots at

goal. There is a lot at stake, not about the past. So much at stake

because whoever wins puts themselves in the chance to win potentially the

championship. There are three changes from last week. Gethin

Jenkins is back. Sam Warburton is back. He will be crucial at the

breakdown. The game management from these two, very confident

performance from last week. Jamie Roberts will have a massive game

today carrying the ball and getting over the gain line. But Williams had

a good game last week. Lay half penny has his 50th cap. You

mentioned Sam Warburton. Keith, three changes and that is probably

the most significant, the captain coming back into the fold. How

significant is the return of Warburton? For two reasons it is

significant. One in his play and then in his captaincy. But it is the

manner in which he teams up. You know for certain that Wolpert and

will be straight in afterwards which makes it hard to get any purchase on

the ball. It is getting very loud here. Jamie Roberts had a massive

game last week and missed the autumn internationals. He had a big game

last week. He always got over the gain line and that will be crucial

today. A great angle, this. Him and Sexton will try and run. He will

make Sexton tackle. Here, he dressed in late. If you overplay the

defensive drift, that is what he does and he is difficult to stop. It

is amazing the amount of talent he brings. Putting on that Welsh jersey

seems to make him an infinitely better player. Plenty of experience

in the Irish squad as well. Jones Schmidt has been speaking with

Sonia. There is no love lost between these

two sides. Have you detected an extra edge? Now, a lot of them are

pretty good friends actually. When you play against your brother,

you're desperate not to lose to him and a lot of these guys have played

a lot together. Through the Lions tour over the summer and they have

played against each other a lot as well. All those friendships that are

formed kind of get put aside for today and they fire into it. You

have your captain back today, like Wales. How significant is that

violent? He adds real leadership valued to hours. But I thought that

we were excellent last week as well. There is a bit of pressure on him to

respond in kind this afternoon. Good luck.

Two changes for Ireland, Keith, and how do you like the look of them? It

will be a battle. The front row is where Island thinks they have a

nudge over Wales. The magic man is back in the second row but it is of

an aggressive kind. He bowls players in around him and there will be high

intensity because of that. It will be a battle in the background. --

back row. Jonny Sexton is the former number ten and can he deliver for

Ireland today? All good chat has been about Brian O'Driscoll with

Gordon D'Arcy. Brian O'Driscoll, no chat and just play and he will try

to sneak in a school himself. They want to turn the ball and you will

see Kearney trying to get in there. As we have said, a mouthwatering

prospect here. The Welshman is very much looking forward to the battle

today. Both teams know each other really

well. Domestically, we play them a lot. There are really big key

moments there. In 2009 at the Grand Slam last year, they gave us a bit

of a whipping merely. That first half, we let ourselves

down and from the second half until the end, through the campaign, we

were spot on. We all come together and seem to gel

and click. We've done reasonably well these last few years. He puts

the game plan to all of us and gives his speeches and things. He is

direct and honest and open. All the boys respect him highly and all the

coaching staff. What is going through his mind, to

be honest, it doesn't bother me. Players have to focus on our own

job. Nobody wants to be left out, it is a difficult situation. Obviously,

he is a threat. COLIN MURRAY: And are -- Conor

Murray! I like to tackle hard, work hard in

defence. This is a team effort. It is not an individual thing. Phillips

is away, Wales have scored! Ireland are rushing up to the referee.

Extra spice in this one? I think so.

As players, we just focus. The quality