Wales to ‘create chaos’ as they look to end Dublin drought against Ireland

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has urged his charges to “create chaos” on the field as they look to upset Ireland in the Six Nations clash in Dublin on Saturday.

Many have predicted only one result at the Aviva Stadium as the unbeaten and in-form Irish take on a Welsh outfit that has lost both of their opening games, albeit narrowly.

Also counting against Warren Gatland’s team is the fact they have not won a Six Nations fixture against Ireland in Dublin since 2012 in a dismal streak of results.

Chaos game

However, Howley has a clear objective on what Wales must do to try and upset the hosts, who could equal England’s record of 11 successive Championship triumphs.

“The challenge for us is making them as uncomfortable as we can, for every minute that we can do that, and ask different questions of them,” coach Howley revealed.

“I think if we can be comfortable in a chaos game and challenge them, because they are very well organised. We need to create chaos. Everyone reacts differently under pressure.

“We have to be able to create pressure on both sides of the ball on Saturday, for 80 of those one-minute games. If we can do that, it is 23 against 23 at the end of the day.

“It is our ability to create pressure on both sides of the ball, our ability to be clinical when we need to be. There might only be two or three opportunities, and we have to be clinical and ruthless.

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“Against a world-class side that hasn’t been beaten, you have to be on it for 80 of those one-minute games.

“They (Ireland) have come out of the World Cup probably with a slight disappointment, knowing Andy Farrell and how he drives their coaching team.

“It’s a great opportunity to go to Dublin and face a formidable side. It is something we are looking forward to, and we will look to challenge them at every opportunity.”

Wales have named their team for the game ahead of schedule, with Sam Costelow the only change to the starting line-up that faced England at Twickenham in Round Two.

Elsewhere in the Welsh squad, uncapped Cardiff back-row forward Mackenzie Martin features on their bench as he awaits a likely international debut at the age of 20.

Feels lucky

For Howley, who is back on the Wales staff after serving a ban for breaching betting regulations, he admits to feeling “so lucky” to have been given a second chance.

“I am so grateful to the coaches, and Warren (Wales head coach Warren Gatland) in particular, to think of me and bring me back into the fold,” said the ex-Lions tourist.

“Every time I’ve been out with my family, it is the first time my girls have smiled for a pretty long time. The public have been fantastic in terms of what they have said to me.

“I am so lucky and glad to be back in a role I have loved for a long period of time.”

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