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Andy Farrell has dismissed suggestions Ireland\u2019s players took an ego battering during their unconvincing win over Scotland and feels they are \u201cbrimming\u201d with belief ahead of a titanic clash with Wales.<\/p>\nAndy Farrell has dismissed suggestions Ireland\u2019s players took an ego battering during their unconvincing win over Scotland and feels they are \u201cbrimming\u201d with belief ahead of a titanic clash with Wales.<\/p>\n
Ireland were red-hot favorites for their opening fixture of the Guinness Six Nations but scraped past the Scots with a nervy 19-12 win.<\/p>\n
Farrell\u2019s men are likely to face a far tougher test this weekend when the reigning Grand Slam champions visit Dublin for a mouthwatering match which could have a major bearing on the destination of the title.<\/p>\n
The head coach, who has made two enforced changes to his starting XV due to injuries to Caelan Doris and Garry Ringrose, insists his squad are working on their weaknesses and enthusiastic about the challenge ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone\u2019s getting carried away with the wide, expansive game that they play and it\u2019s great to watch and they\u2019re doing it really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the same old traditions of Welsh rugby that we\u2019ve seen over the last 10 years under Warren, it\u2019s still there and rightly so.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir kicking game is excellent, their kick chase is good, their line speed is good, the width across the field defensively is pretty good, they\u2019re pretty clinical in the opposition 22 and they\u2019re a threat carrying the ball as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s preparations for a second successive match at the Aviva Stadium have been disrupted by the losses of Doris and Ringrose.<\/p>\n
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Doris\u2019 head injury, suffered inside five minutes of his international debut versus the Scots, means a recall for Peter O\u2019Mahony at blindside flanker, with CJ Stander switching to number eight.<\/p>\n
Ringrose was taken off at half-time against Gregor Townsend\u2019s side due to a hand problem and has also been ruled out of the trip to face England at Twickenham later this month, resulting in an opportunity for Robbie Henshaw at outside center.<\/p>\n
Farrell felt duty-bound to protect Doris in the wake of his agonizing maiden international appearance and a previous whack.<\/p>\n
\u201cCaelan\u2019s had a bit of a knock previously this year, he\u2019s a young boy and I think we do the right thing by young kids and make sure that they recover properly,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cHe\u2019s in good spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s enforced reshuffle could result in a debut for Max Deegan from the bench, while experienced wing Keith Earls is back among the replacements.<\/p>\n
Farrell feels 23-year-old Deegan is well-equipped for the demands of international rugby and capable of adding an extra dimension to his team.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got all the attributes of a great back-rower. You go into the unknown a little bit with Test match rugby but we feel he is ready,\u201d Farrell said of the Leinster player.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great all-round footballer and we feel he\u2019s going to add a dimension to us, especially in attack when he comes off the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prop Dave Kilcoyne retains his place on the bench, despite suffering a head injury after coming on against Scotland, but will be continually assessed during the remainder of the week.<\/p>\n