Monday 9 March 2015 17:12, UK
Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards is expecting a tough task when his side face reigning Six Nations champions and unbeaten title favourites Ireland on Saturday.
Wales, despite losing their opening game to England, have given themselves a fighting chance of landing a third title in four years following successive away victories over Scotland and France.
Up next for Wales in Cardiff is Joe Schmidt's team who Edwards admits will pose more of a threat than any other team in the competition.
He said: "We have looked at our opponents, and we are coming up against the best team in Europe, the form team in Europe. They have got two brilliant half-backs, for a start, who have got great tactical brains.
"They have a strike-runner on the outside in Tommy Bowe who maybe the best defensive winger in the northern hemisphere. He is magnificent in picking up interceptions, and we have to keep our eye on Tommy.
"The forwards are well-drilled and a cohesive unit, and play with a lot of passion and aggression, and they have got excellent coaches. These are the big games you get excited about, and big-time players rise to the challenge."
We have looked at our opponents, and we are coming up against the best team in Europe, the form team in Europe.
Two key areas that Wales will need to perform strongly in are the lineout, where Ireland will be spearheaded by their captain Paul O'Connell, and shackling an impressive new Irish midfield combination of Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw.
Edwards said: "They (O'Connell and Devin Toner) are a very experienced second-row pairing. Having worked with Paul, he is a very wily operator and a guy who I have huge respect for.
"Our guys will have their work cut out at lineout time, but they have already been in this morning having meetings and looking at the different structures. They know we are in for a challenge in that area, and I am sure they are up for it.
"I knew more about Payne, having watched Ulster more than Connacht. But Henshaw is a big physical guy, and Payne has a cutting edge on the outside. It's important we don't give them any space whatsoever."
Uncapped Exeter prop Tomas Francis has been invited to train with the Wales squad by head coach Warren Gatland and Edwards sees "a lot of potential" in the 22-year-old.
"His scrummaging is outstanding, but he is also a skilful player," he said. "Francis is a big kid, and I have seen him play. The scrum at Exeter has been going excellently recently, so we have brought him in.
"He is a young man who is coming from a great environment at Exeter which prides itself on hard work, and we would like to think we are a similar sort of environment. It's a case of trying to get the best players playing for us, and we see a lot of potential in this lad."
