Simon Easterby won't fall into complacency camp for Wales trip

Simon Easterby has seen enough Six Nations upsets in his time to know that taking Wales lightly is a folly.

Back-to-back Ireland champions Ireland are overwhelming favourites to hand Warren Gatland's side a 15th consecutive defeat when the sides meet in Cardiff on 22 February.

Nobody is giving the hosts a chance, much as few gave England a chance at beating France, Ireland in last year’s championship, or going back to Easterby’s playing days, Ireland to beat Les Bleus that day in 2000 in Paris.

Ireland, two from two, will be focused and disciplined but Easterby, in interim charge with Andy Farrell on Lions duty, won’t underestimate Wales, who lost 22-15 to Italy in spilling rain on Saturday.

"It’s difficult," he said of Wales current situation. "There’s so much passion and support for their national team and at the moment they’re in a tough place.

"They weren’t particularly happy with the weather.

"Once they got behind, it was hard to play in those conditions. They certainly showed that, as the game went on, they got stronger and were able to get back into the game.

"They just didn’t have probably long enough to do that.

"We know that it’s a hell of a place to go and play, the roof will be closed, the atmosphere will be like it is every time we play in the Millennium Stadium against Wales, 75,000 passionate people that want and will their team to success.

"I’m a big believer in making sure that we play each game as it comes and that will be no different. We’ll enjoy this week, a bit of downtime, but we’ll make sure we’ll get prepared well for that Wales challenge."

The 49-year-old has used 25 players in the wins over England and Scotland and hopes Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen will be fit for round three.

However,