Six Nations 2026 preview: Ireland meet an improving Wales side in Dublin

Round four of the Men’s Six Nations will take us to the first Friday game of this tournament.

Historically, Ireland vs Wales is always one of the most heavily contested games of the tournament.

Over the last decade or so, triple crown campaigns, and indeed tournament wins, have been disrupted by this game.

But, in the last few years, a level of competitiveness has dipped. This has coincided largely with the rise in Andy Farrell’s Ireland and the slump that Wales are still experiencing.

This season’s match, though, has the potential to be the tightest in a while.

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Can Steve Tandy’s side win a game?

Wales are certainly on an upward trajectory under Steve Tandy. The first steps of the Wales rebuild have gone well.

We have been able to see in real time the growth of this Welsh side.

After being battered by a secretly not amazing England, a valiant but still losing effort against France should’ve culminated in the first Six Nations win in three years against Scotland, if it wasn’t for a stroke of Finn Russell genius.

Regardless if they won their last game or not, they looked like a proper team again against the Scots.

Their lineout and scrum was solid and their kicking game was so much tighter, especially off the boot of Tomos Williams.

Their line defence in the first half was brilliant also, stopping the Scottish forwards over and over again.

For game after game, the media and fans alike have been crying out for Wales just to get back to basics, which is what they did.

They had a togetherness which made them a tough unit to beat and puts them into good stead for the final two games in the tournament.

Tandy’s focus now is simple: win. He has proved he can rebuild from ruins and restore the set-piece and cohesion; now he needs a result the fans can finally celebrate.

But if it is to happen this week, Wales will have to beat a team fresh off the back of their biggest ever win at the home of English rugby.

Are Ireland still genuine contenders?

Ireland’s first two games of the campaign were a real worry.

The loss to the French was expected, but a very narrow win against the Italians, only confirmed by a controversial forward pass call against the Azzurri, was far from optimal.

If they were hosting Wales just after those performances, we may have been discussing potential for a much tighter game, but then Ireland rocked England in a completely dominating style.

The use of Jack Crowley instead of Sam Prendergast at fly half saw some much-needed organisational improvement in the back line, showing everyone that he is the right man to lead the emerald backs, despite head coach Andy Farrell’s commitment to young Prendergast.

There is still debate around whether Ireland’s result in the last round was due to their superb performance or due to England stuttering badly.

What we definitely do know is that Ireland does technically have a chance to regain the now fire-damaged Six Nations trophy, which they held in 2024, but plenty needs to go in their favour for that to happen, the first being a bonus point against a resurgent Wales in Dublin.

Perhaps if this game were taking place in a freshly re-energised Principality, then Wales could be within a shout of victory, but despite their recent upturn in form, Ireland look that little bit too good after round three.

If the Welsh are within a try at halftime, then perhaps an upset is on, but even then, it will take a lot for this youthful Welsh side to beat Ireland’s team full of depth.

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