Six Nations news: Wales recall Costelow and aim to ‘create chaos’ against Ireland

Rob Howley has said Wales will aim to create rugby chaos when they face what most people believe is mission improbable against Ireland on Saturday. Wales have not won a Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin since 2012, drawing one and losing four of the subsequent fixtures.

Ireland are chasing back-to-back grand slams – a feat never previously achieved in the Six Nations – and have taken pole position following emphatic bonus-point victories over France and Italy. Andy Farrell’s team will also equal a record, currently held by England and set seven years ago, of 11 successive Six Nations wins if they topple Wales.

“The challenge for us is making them as uncomfortable as we can, for every minute that we can do that, and ask different questions of them,” the Wales assistant coach Howley said. “I think we can be comfortable in a chaos game and challenge them, because they are very well organised. We need to create chaos. Everyone reacts differently under pressure.

“We have to be able to create pressure on both sides of the ball on Saturday, for 80 of those one-minute games. If we can do that, it is 23 against 23 at the end of the day. It is our ability to create pressure on both sides of the ball, our ability to be clinical when we need to be. There might only be two or three opportunities, and we have to be clinical and ruthless. Against a world-class side that hasn’t been beaten, you have to be on it.”

The fly-half Sam Costelow has been recalled to the Wales starting lineup for Saturday’s clash. The Scarlets No 10 went off with a neck problem when Wales were beaten 27-26 by Scotland in their opening game. He was replaced by Ioan Lloyd, who started at fly-half in the Twickenham match against England, but Costelow now returns in a solitary change from that game.

Elsewhere, there are further starts for squad newcomers Cameron Winnett and Alex Mann, with the centre George North winning his 120th cap and becoming only the third Wales player to reach that mark after Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins. The uncapped Cardiff back-row forward Mackenzie Martin, meanwhile, features on the replacements’ bench. The 20-year-old is in his first full season of professional rugby and has made just nine Cardiff appearances, but he is now set to make a Test debut at the Aviva Stadium.

Howley, who served as Wales attack coach from 2008 to 2019, is back involved with the national squad this season following his ban for breaching betting regulations. He was forced to step back from the game in the buildup to the 2019 World Cup when his betting activity came to light, resulting in an 18-month ban from rugby, half of which was suspended.

“I am so grateful to the coaches, and Warren [Gatland] in particular, to think of me and bring me back into the fold,” Howley said. “Every time I’ve been out with my family, it is the first time my girls have smiled for a pretty long time. The public have been fantastic in terms of what they have said to me. I am so lucky and glad to be back in a role I have loved for a long period of time.”

Meanwhile, Ireland’s back-rower Caelan Doris is expected to be fully fit for the game despite sitting out training on Tuesday. The 25-year-old suffered “bumps and bruises” while captaining his country during the win over Italy. The full-back Hugo Keenan is also yet to train after being forced off by a knee injury against the Azzurri but will be given the chance to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday afternoon’s match in Dublin.

“Caelan didn’t train and that was the plan at the beginning of the week, just to manage him,” the defence coach, Simon Easterby, told a press conference, according to the Irish Independent. “But we’re expecting him to train fully tomorrow, so there should be no issue. He is probably carrying a few [knocks], but more bumps and bruises. I guess he took a few hits against Italy and he’s in a good place but he needs to be managed in a couple of areas.”

Keenan has been almost ever-present in Ireland’s full-back jersey during the past three years. Asked for an update on the 27-year-old, Easterby said: “It’s sort of similar to Caelan. Hugo has been such a massive part of this group since he first made his debut a few years ago, so it’s important that we give him the opportunity to prove his fitness. But we are really excited as well about the opportunities that might present if he doesn’t make it.”

Ireland’s head coach, Farrell, is due to name his team on Thursday afternoon. The lock Iain Henderson is another doubt after sustaining a foot injury on Sunday during Ulster’s 19-17 United Rugby Championship defeat by Ospreys. Easterby said final calls on the fitness of Keenan, Doris and Henderson will be made on Wednesday. “For someone like Caelan in particular, you wouldn’t want to leave it too late,” he said. “You’d also want to make sure you give the guys that potentially do start the opportunity to get time in the saddle.”