'No chance' of Irish complacency against Wales

While some Irish supporters and media may be quick to write off Wales, there appears to be no chance of those within the walls if the IRFU's high performance facility doing similar.

Six Nations wins in Wales don’t come around often for Ireland, as one of their most experienced players can testify.

Of the current squad, only Cian Healy, Conor Murray, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony have been playing Test rugby for longer than Robbie Henshaw, who goes to Cardiff this weekend looking for his first Six Nations win in the Welsh capital.

Ireland won on their last visit in 2023, but the centre missed the start of that Grand Slam campaign due to a wrist injury, and each of his three previous visits to the principality in the championship ended in defeat. He started each of the losses in 2015, 2017 and in 2021, and although he was involved in a 2019 World Cup warm-up win in Cardiff, it hasn't satisfied his appetite for a Six Nations victory.

"It’s an incredibly tough place to play," Henshaw said, when reminded of his poor record away to Wales.

"We’ve had some great battles with Wales over the years. Such a passionate crowd. And when the crowd get behind them and if they get a roll, they’re hard to stop.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere. It’s going to be a huge test."

The 31-year-old (above) has hit an impressive run of form for both province and country, and is towards the top of a busy midfield depth chart in the Ireland squad, alongside Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne.

Having struggled for a good run of fitness in 2023, Henshaw has now played in 12 of Ireland’s last 13 games, with all but one of those appearances coming in the starting team.

Given the attritional nature of the position, Ireland’s