The Albany Gazette - Caretaker boss Sherratt set to shake up Wales for Ireland clash

The match on Saturday will be Cardiff boss Sherratt's first in charge of the struggling national side since a 22-15 defeat by Italy extended Wales' record losing streak to 14 Tests and signalled the end for Gatland.

Sherratt, however, has agreed to coach Wales for only the final three rounds of the Six Nations, starting with the daunting encounter in Cardiff against an Ireland side chasing a Grand Slam and a third successive title.

But Welsh media reports suggest the temporary nature of his appointment won't stop Sherratt from making wholesale alterations when he names his first Wales side on Thursday, with Nottingham-born Scarlets back Ellis Mee in line for a Test debut.

Max Llewellyn and Gareth Anscombe, recalled by Sherratt after both Gloucester backs were left out of Gatland's Six Nations squad, could also start.

Leicester forwards Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell are among other players based at English clubs who may be recalled to face Ireland.

Wales have not won a Test since defeating Georgia in a 2023 World Cup pool match in France.

Another loss on Saturday would create a new Welsh record of nine Five or Six Nations defeats in a row and leave them on course to suffer a second successive championship whitewash ahead of their concluding games against Scotland and England in March.

Mee, whose mother is from Wales, has only played 10 competitive games for the Scarlets since joining from English second-tier club Nottingham.

But he impressed Gatland sufficiently to gain a Six Nations squad place as one of only two newcomers alongside Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards.

Wales back-row forward Aaron Wainwright was under no illusions about the scale of the task confronting his side as they look to cause a huge upset.

"They (Ireland) are one of the best teams in the world, incredibly well drilled all the way across the park," said the 27-year-old.

"So for us, we've got to be right on our game...They are incredibly detailed. Hopefully, we can try and nullify that and take away their detail as much as we can by being nuisances."

Wales have lost seven of their last eight games against Ireland, now unde a caretaker boss of their own in former Scarlets captain Simon Easterby while Andy Farrell is seconded to the British and Irish Lions for the tour of Australia later this year.

"A lot of people I speak to understand this is a low point, but they are excited about the chance for us to try to get back to where we were two or three years ago," said Wainwright.

"I highlight 2019 as being my best year in a Welsh shirt, when we won the Six Nations and then reached the World Cup semi-finals. We want to get back to where we were then as soon as possible."

(P.Clark--TAG)