It is a measure of Ireland’s confidence that they have agreed to the roof of the Principality Stadium being shut for a match they have to win to maintain their ambition of seizing back the title they lost last year to England, their opponents in the final match of the Six Nations in Dublin next week.
Ireland should be upbeat after a season in which they ended New Zealand’s long winning run and defeated Australia, and since 1983 they have lost only three times in the championship in Cardiff with both Munster and Leinster winning the European Cup in the Welsh capital in that time. They stuttered on the opening weekend in Scotland but Jonathan Sexton is back at fly-half with his calm authority.
Related: Owen Farrell set to face Scotland in Six Nations despite injury scare
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