Wales vs Ireland: Prediction, head to head, starting line-ups and team news, TV, live coverage and betting odds – Six Nations preview

Wales could still be feeling the effects of a difficult Six Nations campaign in two years from now if Rob Howley can't lead his team to victory before the Six Nations championship is over.

Indeed, osses to Scotland and England have left the Welsh fourth in the table and facing a potential Group of Death at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Wales must win one of their remaining two Six Nations matches or they will almost certainly drop out of the top eight of the World Rugby rankings.

Should they do so, they would slip into pot three for the World Cup first round draw on May 10.

Here’s the full breakdown ahead of Friday's clash at the Principality Stadium…

START TIME

The match kicks off at Twickenham at 8.05pm on Friday, March 10.

TV AND LIVE COVERAGE

BBC will be broadcasting the match live with build-up from 7.30pm, while BBC Five Live Sports Extra will provide coverage on the radio.

You can follow the match live online by clicking here.

TEAM NEWS

Wales boss Rob Howley has named an unchanged team for Friday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Cardiff.

Howley keeps faith with the team beaten 29-13 by Scotland at Murrayfield 11 days ago

Bath forwards Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris, who had been tipped in some quarters to start, again feature among the replacements.

And openside flanker Justin Tipuric will win his 50th cap, packing down alongside back-row colleagues Sam Warburton and Ross Moriarty.

Meanwhile, Garry Ringrose has kept his place at outside centre in an unchanged Ireland side to face Wales in Cardiff on Friday night.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Wales XV: L Halfpenny (Toulon); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Scarlets), S WIlliams (Scarlets), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), J Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester).

Ireland XV: R Kearney (Leinster); K Earls (Munster), G Ringrose, R Henshaw (both Leinster), S Zebo (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), D Toner (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), S O'Brien, J Heaslip (both Leinster).

HEAD TO HEAD

PREDICTION

BETTING ODDS (provided by 888Sport)

Wales to win at 7/5

Draw at 18/1

Ireland to win at 3/5

Odds correct as of 8.30am March 10. Click here to place a bet.