{"id":328269,"date":"2026-03-04T10:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/328269\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T10:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:46:10","slug":"andy-farrell-to-offer-fresh-opportunities-steve-tandys-hand-forced-by-injuries-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/328269\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Farrell to offer fresh opportunities, Steve Tandy\u2019s hand forced by injuries \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ireland team to be announced at 2pm<\/p>\n

Key reads:<\/p>\n

Join The Irish Times Rugby WhatsApp channel<\/a> to stay up to date with all the latest Six Nations news, and get The Irish Times rugby coverage sent direct to your inbox by signing up to Gerry Thornley\u2019s Counter Ruck newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ireland again have the opening fixture of the weekend, hosting Wales at the Aviva on Friday night, kick-off 8.10pm.<\/p>\n

Scotland and France then get Saturday\u2019s action under way at Murrayfield, where there\u2019ll be a 2.10pm kick-off, before Italy host England in the 4.40pm start.<\/p>\n

RT\u00c92 and ITV1 will have live coverage of Ireland v Wales on Friday, while Virgin Media One will show both of Saturday\u2019s games. BBC One will air Scotland v France and ITV1 will have Italy v England.<\/p>\n

The story of round three went like this…<\/p>\n

In the first game of the weekend, Ireland travelled to Twickenham to face England, who threatened a response following their 31-20 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield the weekend prior. However, it went very much the other way for Steve Borthwick\u2019s side, Ireland claiming a record win in southwest London.<\/p>\n

Then it was over to Cardiff, where Wales came within a whisker of taking their first win of this year\u2019s championship. It wasn\u2019t to be however, as Scotland crossed for a late try to push Wales\u2019s losing streak in the tournament to 14 games.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s fixture took us to Paris, where France showed no sign of slowing their charge for the Grand Slam. They ran out handy winners over Italy, 33-8 the final score at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n

Elite sport is data mad. When fine margins (or the \u20181 per cents\u2019 as they\u2019re often termed) can seal your fate, teams are looking to exploit any and every aspect of the game possible.<\/p>\n

In the latest episode of The Counter Ruck, Nathan Johns chats to Sam Larner about his new book, Attacking the Space, which offers an insight into how data has shaped rugby tactics.<\/p>\n

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts.<\/p>\n

\"\"Data in rugby and Ireland\u2019s tactical revolution explained<\/p>\n

Wales have made three changes to the side that lost 26-23 to Scotland last time out.<\/p>\n

James Botham comes into the backrow in place of the injured Taine Plumtree, Dan Edwards is in for Sam Costelow at outhalf, and Ellis Mee swaps in for GabrielHamer-Webb on the wing.<\/p>\n

Their head coach, Steve Tandy, said Friday will be about backing up their positive performance against the Scots, who denied them a home victory<\/a> after a 75th-minute try from George Turner.<\/p>\n

\"GeorgeGeorge Turner celebrates after Scotland’s win over Wales at the Principality Stadium. Photograph: Mike Egerton\/PA <\/p>\n

\u201cGoing away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game,\u201d said Tandy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the defence against Scotland was much improved, so we definitely want to double down on that going to Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see how they keep the ball in possession, they play lots of passes so we know we\u2019re going to have to build and improve from the other week.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Wales make three changes for Dublin Test against renewed IrelandOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Wales have named their team for Friday. Here\u2019s how they line out:<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Loue Hennessey.<\/p>\n

Some early-morning news for us from New Zealand, the All Blacks have named Dave Rennie as Scott Robertson\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n

The 62-year-old former Wallabies coach beat out All Blacks XV head coach Jamie Joseph for one of the biggest jobs in world rugby after an extensive recruitment process that started when Robertson stepped down in mid January after a critical review.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie takes All Blacks job and targets World Cup gloryOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

In case you\u2019ve forgotten how the table looks after the third round:<\/p>\n

Good morning all!<\/p>\n

After a week off, the Six Nations<\/a> returns for round four, with Andy Farrell<\/a> to name his side to face Wales<\/a> at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening.<\/p>\n

The Ireland<\/a> team announcement is due to be made at 2pm, so we\u2019ve a while to go on that front.<\/p>\n

However, Wales are up and at \u2018em bright and early this morning as Steve Tandy is due to name his side around 9am.<\/p>\n

To kick us off, how about we take a look at Gerry Thornley\u2019s predictions.<\/p>\n

He thinks Ulster\u2019s Nick Timoney is in line to start on Friday night, with Jacob Stockdale also expected to return to the starting fold.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Farrell evidently more inclined to rotate in this more congested Six Nations of five games in a six-week window, and perhaps with one eye on the next World Cup, the signs are that there might be further changes, especially up front,\u201d Gerry writes.<\/p>\n

Read his predictions in full below:<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Nick Timoney set for first Six Nations start against Wales with Jacob Stockdale in line to returnOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

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