Wales interim boss Matt Sherratt set to make wholesale changes for Ireland match

Matt Sherratt looks set to rip up the Wales team beaten by Italy and make wholesale changes for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Ireland.

Wales’ interim head coach, who is at the helm for three games only as immediate successor to Warren Gatland, could hand Nottingham-born Scarlets back Ellis Mee his Test debut.

Gloucester backs Max Llewellyn and Gareth Anscombe, recalled by Sherratt after Gatland left them out of his Six Nations squad, are widely expected to start.

It is understood that other players firmly in the mix to feature include Leicester forwards Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell, with captain Jac Morgan lining up at blindside flanker.

Wales are 25-1 with some bookmakers to beat title favourites Ireland and halt a run of 14 successive Test reversals since defeating 2023 World Cup pool opponents Georgia.

A further loss would create a new Welsh record of nine Five or Six Nations defeats on the bounce and leave them hurtling towards another wooden spoon, with Scotland and England awaiting in March.

Mee, whose mother is from Newport, has only played 10 competitive games for the Scarlets since joining them from English Championship club Nottingham last summer.