Wales ready to take on confident Ireland - Adam Beard

Adam Beard says Wales will relish the size of their challenge against Guinness Six Nations title favourites Ireland in Dublin.

Wales have not won a Six Nations game at the Aviva Stadium since 2012, drawing one and losing four of the subsequent meetings.

And they face an Ireland side firmly on course to achieve an historic feat of winning Six Nations Grand Slams in successive seasons.

Having accounted for France and Italy in bonus-point fashion, Andy Farrell's team will be backed by many to inflict similar pain on Wales on 24 February.

Wales lost their opening games to Scotland and England – albeit by a combined total of just three points – so a tall order awaits them.

"Physicality is going to be one of the key components of the game," 53-cap Wales lock Beard said.

"You see the way Ireland play their rugby. It is all about speed, winning collisions and the breakdown.

"Defensively, we have to match up with that physical battle, and in attack it’s about being clinical and physical. It will be a tough game, but one we are looking forward to.

"Ireland are a team that are playing with confidence, and it helps when a lot of them play club rugby together. We are excited to get stuck into them."

Wales have a new look about them in this season’s Six Nations, with Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar having retired from Test rugby, Louis Rees-Zammit now concentrating on a possible American football career and the likes of Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau and Dewi Lake all injured.

It has meant Six Nations opportunities for others, including players like Cameron Winnett, Ioan Lloyd, Archie Griffin and Alex Mann, while 21-year-old Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins is Wales’ youngest captain for 56 years.

Beard added: "We are not far away. This squad is fairly