Wales a tall order even without injured stars: Sexton

Johnny Sexton says Ireland may be facing a Wales side lacking many established stars in their Six Nations opener on Saturday but it would be "insulting" to the players replacing them to talk about it being an easier challenge.

The 36-year-old Ireland skipper added that past history suggests the Welsh can shrug off injuries to key players just as they did last year in winning the Six Nations title.

The Welsh will be without iconic captain Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi for the entire tournament

Star winger George North and No.8 Taulupe Faletau are believed to have slim chances of playing in the latter stages of the tournament.

"We have not spoken too much about what they are missing but who they have got," said Sexton at a press conference on Tuesday from the Ireland training camp in Portugal.

"They had many in November and in the Six Nations and the latter they ended up winning it.

"We are preparing to play a very good Welsh team who had a great run of form over the past year.

"It would be insulting (talking of an easier clash) to those coming in who are excellent players.

"Those missing have played multiple times and enjoyed great success but these guys coming in could have similar journeys ahead of them.

"There is not one bit of complacency in our camp."

Ireland are going into the match on an eight Test winning run and with competition for starting places across the pitch.

However, Sexton says they are in a similar position as they were in November -- when they won their three matches including an impressive victory over New Zealand -- in not having had much game time.

"We have not had a hell of a lot of game time with games called off owing to Covid-19 or players have had it themselves