Ellis Mee is one of three changes to the Wales starting line-up for their Six Nations clash with Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Friday. 

Mee will replace Gabriel Hamer-Webb, who made his Test debut in Wales' 26-23 loss to Scotland last time out, which was their 14th successive Six Nations defeat. 

Steve Tandy has also been forced into making two alterations, with injuries to Sam Costelow and Taine Plumtree seeing Dan Edwards and James Botham drafted in. 

There is also one positional switch as Alex Mann switches from open-side flanker to blind-side to accommodate Cardiff team-mate Botham. 

The pair will pack down in the back row alongside in-form number eight Aaron Wainwright, who has been named in the side despite reports of a fitness concern.

Bath centre Louie Hennessey could also win his first cap after being named on the bench, with Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell also among the replacements. 

On his team, Tandy said: "There are a couple of enforced changes this week due to injury and then Ellis played well in the opening couple of rounds, so we feel he deserves the opportunity again. 

"This week it's about backing up the performance against Scotland.

"Going away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game."

𝗧î𝗺 𝗖𝘆𝗺𝗿𝘂

Here is your Wales 23 to face Ireland under the lights in Dublin on Friday night, 20:10 KO!

https://t.co/vv0EFPjUV6#CymruAmByth | #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/Nh2aQuO3ve

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 4, 2026

It is almost three years exactly since Wales won a match in the Six Nations, picking up a 29-17 victory in Rome against Italy on 11th March 2023.

Only Italy (36 between 2015 and 2022) have lost more matches in a row in the tournament in the professional era.

They have lost 23 of their 25 matches since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, only beating Japan in that span (twice). Wales have also thrown away five half-time leads in this run. 

Wales lineup: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Aaron Wainwright, James Botham, Alex Mann; Ben Carter, Dafydd Jenkins; Tomas Francis, Dewi Lake, Rhys Carre. 

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Louie Hennessey.