DUBLIN – Wales captain Dewi Lake acknowledges a clear disparity between his team and Ireland, but insists his side relishes the challenge and believes they are capable of causing an upset in their Six Nations encounter on Friday night at the Aviva Stadium. Despite a recent run of poor form, including 14 consecutive Six Nations defeats, Lake and his team are focused on delivering a strong performance against the heavily favored Irish.
The Welsh are looking to end a frustrating streak, having suffered 24 losses in 26 international matches since the 2023 World Cup. Ireland, buoyed by a record-breaking 42-21 victory over England, enter the match as strong favorites. Though, Lake maintains that Wales’ encouraging display in their recent 26-23 defeat to Scotland has instilled belief within the squad. “We believe we can compete against Ireland because we think we’re good enough,” Lake stated, as reported by the BBC. “I don’t think we would be here if we didn’t think that.”
Lions Selection Highlights the Gap
Lake openly admitted that the composition of last year’s British & Irish Lions squad underscored the existing difference in quality between the two nations. Only two Welsh players – flanker Jac Morgan (currently injured) and scrum-half Tomos Williams – were selected by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell for the triumphant 2025 series in Australia. Ireland ultimately had 18 players on that tour, including three late additions due to injury. “It can’t not (show the difference), really, can it?” Lake said, according to RTÉ. “over the last 12 months, we haven’t been good enough as a team.”
He emphasized that Morgan and Williams were deserving selections, highlighting their world-class abilities, but acknowledged Wales’ struggles to consistently produce results and showcase their potential over the past year. “We haven’t put enough results together, we haven’t shown the team and the individuals we can be over the last 12 months,” Lake explained. “Obviously Ireland are a team that massively have grown and are a top-class team. It shows an obvious gulf at the minute.”
Finding Confidence After Scotland Performance
Despite their historical struggles in Dublin – Wales hasn’t won a Six Nations match there since 2012, and their last international victory at the Aviva Stadium was 11 years ago in a World Cup warm-up – Lake believes the team has turned a corner. The performance against Scotland, where Wales demonstrated improved defensive effort and attacking flair, has provided a significant boost in confidence. “I have said from game one there has been belief in the squad in this whole campaign,” Lake said. “We showed our best against Scotland and everything kind of clicked for us.”
Lake also highlighted the team’s defensive improvements, noting that increased effort in that area was evident in the Scotland match. “We put a bit more effort in defence in the week and you probably saw that, the mentality to proceed and defend,” he added. When in possession, Wales have shown promising attacking capabilities in recent months, and Lake is optimistic that they can build on that momentum.
Embracing the Underdog Role
Wales are comfortable with being considered the underdogs, a position Lake says they actively embrace. “That’s probably our favourite place to be really – the underdog,” he stated, as reported by RFI. “Being Welsh, we’ve always loved being the underdog. Nobody giving us an opportunity.”
Number eight Aaron Wainwright has been battling a leg injury this week but trained in the final session in Dublin, suggesting he is in contention to play. Wales have recalled Mee for the match against Ireland.
The match against Ireland represents a significant challenge for Wales, but Lake and his team are determined to compete and potentially spring an upset. The focus remains on executing their game plan effectively and capitalizing on opportunities. The outcome will undoubtedly have implications for both teams’ title aspirations in the 2026 Six Nations Championship.
What comes next for Wales will be determined by their performance against Ireland. Regardless of the result, the team will look to build on the positive aspects of their recent performances and continue to develop their game throughout the remainder of the tournament. Share your thoughts on the upcoming match in the comments below!
