Wales scrap misfiring Ireland for Six Nations contenders

Wales and Ireland will seek to underline their credentials as potential Six Nations contenders when they meet today after a series of equally patchy performances.

Both sides have flattered to deceive with some disappointingly flat displays in a tournament now topped by the unbeaten English.

Ireland struggled past Italy (13-11) and Scotland (21-18), and went down 25-22 to France, while Wales convincingly beat Scotland (24-6), failed to impress in a victory against Italy (24-16) and lost to England(26-19).

Declan Kidney’s Irish team, who won their first Grand Slam since 1948 in beating the Welsh in Cardiff in 2009, will have history on their side at the Millennium Stadium today, having lost only once in Cardiff since 1983.

In the Welsh camp, coach Warren Gatland moved the versatile James Hook back to outside-half, with Stephen Jones dropping to the bench.

Fit-again Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies returns to midfield alongside Jamie Roberts and Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, the long-range kicking specialist, is preferred to the unlucky Morgan Stoddart, a try-scorer against England and Italy.

“This is a crucial game for us as a win will keep us in the Championship mix and take us into that final round with everything still to play for,” said Gatland, who was also coach of Ireland between 1998-2001.

“But it is also a big game for Ireland, who are in a similar position to us going into this match.”

Also today, Italy will be looking to defy the tide of history when they host France in Rome.

While Italy have on occasions kept things reasonably close in Paris since they were admitted to the Six Nations, at home they have suffered one thrashing after another.

Three times in their five games at home to the elegant French in this competition they have conceded more than 50 points.

Playing today: 3.30 p.m. Italy vs France; 6 p.m. Wales vs Ireland.

Tomorrow: 4 p.m. England vs Scot-land.

Standings: England 6; Wales, France, Ireland 4; Scotland, Italy 0.