Wounded Ireland seeking redemption against Wales

It paves the way for Georiga Evans to make her first start of the campaign in the second row alongside Branwen Metcalfe, with Jorja Aiono switching to the back row.

Nikita Prothero is set to become Lynn's ninth debutant from the bench, while Natalia John is in line for a half century of caps.

• Higgins returns for Ireland to face Wales
• Three changes in Wales starting XV to face Ireland

View from the camps

"Every game in this tournament has seen us build another layer of the team we aspire to be and we expect to come away from Ireland having done the same," said Wales head coach Sean Lynn.

"Morale and confidence are really high, everybody will be looking for a win, but it's about making sure that we are performing.

"Ireland have got a very physical pack, they work hard, and they've got Dannah O'Brien who's got a very good kicking game.

"If we can stop them from going forward, then we're putting them out of their comfort zone."

Ireland assistant coach Alan O'Connor said: "There was a lot of good from that French game, so we're just trying to build on that.

"The first half was really good. I think we got close to the line around 12 times, but we just weren't clinical enough. Building on that, we just need to be more clinical.

"Wales' strength would probably be the set-piece. They're good at the breakdown so we need to make sure we're on the money there."

Commentator’s note

BBC Radio Wales commentator Phil Steele: "There's a lovely old Irish saying that's often used to articulate the laid-back, unhurried approach to life in The Emerald Isle that goes: 'When God made time, he gave plenty of it to Ireland'.

"Unfortunately as far as time waiting for a Welsh victory is concerned, the good Lord has been rather over generous to Sean Lynn's team.

"It's been 295 days since their last win and 1,503 days since they last triumphed over Ireland. So what are Wales' chances of a timely taste of victory this time out?

"They're certainly not favourites against an Irish side that possesses genuine quality in several positions – not least in a powerful pack which features last year's player of the tournament Aoife Wafer and skipper Erin King.

"Wales are fortified with the return of Hannah Dallavelle and Carys Cox, and no doubt skipper Bethan Lewis will be urging her team to take heart from two specific episodes – the opening 40 minutes where they held parity with France, and the final 10 minutes when they finished with a two-try flourish against England.

"If Wales are able to amalgamate the above for the full 80 minutes it might just be their time. This time."

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Match stats

• Ireland lead the head-to-head stats, winning 13 out of 24 games played against Wales
• Ireland have come out on top in the last two Six Nations meetings against Wales, both with bonus-point wins
• Ireland have won 19 line-out throws and four line-out steals, more than any other side in this year's Six Nations
• Erin King leads the championship in both attacking ruck entries (105) and defensive ruck entries (39)
• Wales lead the championship in kicks in play (87) and kick metres (2036)
• Wales also top of the table with the most tackle turnovers (12)
• Keira Bevan beat the most defenders (nine) in round three

Line-ups

Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, Higgins, O'Connor; O'Brien, Lane; Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Wall, Tuite, Hogan, King (capt) Wafer

Replacements: Jones, McGrath, Cahill, Campbell, Monaghan, Moore, Whelan, Gallagher

Wales: Powell; Dallavalle, Cox, Keight, J Joyce; George, Bevan; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Metcalfe, Evans, Aiono, Lewis (capt), King

Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, John, A Joyce, Lockwood, Bell, Prothero

Officials

Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)

Assistants: Alexandra Ferre (FFR), Beatrice Smussi (FIR)

TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)