Captain Johnny Sexton vows Ireland will not take injury-hit Wales lightly

Johnny Sexton insists there is “not one ounce of complacency” in Ireland’s camp ahead of their Guinness Six Nations opener against depleted Wales.

Wayne Pivac’s side arrive in Dublin on Saturday as reigning champions but hindered by the absence of a host of star names.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones is among those unavailable, in addition to fellow British and Lions Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi.

While Ireland have the luxury of being relatively injury-free, skipper Sexton dismissed suggestions the situation gives the hosts a significant advantage.

“I’m not going to say that because then I’m insulting the guys that are coming in – and I think the guys that are coming in are excellent players,” the fly-half said.

“The guys that are injured of course have big reputations because they’ve played multiple Tests for their country. They’ve performed week in, week out.

“But these other guys that are coming in are at the start of their journey and could go on and have the same careers as the guys ahead of them.

We haven't spoken too much about who they are missing; we've spoken about who they've got.- Johnny Sexton on Wales

“There’s not one ounce of complacency in our squad.

“We haven’t spoken too much about who they are missing; we’ve spoken about who they’ve got. We see a big tough test ahead.”

Experienced Wales leader Jones – the world’s most-capped player – is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The enforced absence of the 36-year-old means fly-half Dan Biggar will captain the visitors at the Aviva Stadium.

Biggar said this week that rival 10 Sexton is among the toughest opponents he has faced during his career.

Sexton is eagerly anticipating another tussle with his former Lions team-mate, with whom he