WELSH FANS arrived early for this weekend’s Six Nations clash with hopes of triumph at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow..
Sampling the delights of Temple Bar yesterday, some fans thought the Welsh had an age advantage.
“They always do quite well, don’t they, but they are an ageing team and we hope our young boys may run them ragged,” said one fan of the Irish squad.
Not heartened by Brian O’Driscoll’s loss to injury, one female Dragons fan predicted a tight match. “O’Driscoll is a very good player but so are the rest of what’s left. If they can step up to the mark, they’ll be a handful for Wales.”
Buoyed by Wales’s performance in last year’s World Cup in New Zealand, however, she said, “If they show us the passion they did in the World Cup, we’ll give any team a nightmare.”
With Ireland losing to Wales in their southern hemisphere clash, the boys have the chance to redress the balance on home turf.
Wales have won on just two of their last six Dublin visits in the Six Nations, while Ireland can claim seven previous victories on the tournament’s opening weekend.
With kick-off at 3pm, a cool, bright day is forecast, with slack winds and temperatures up to 8 degrees.
Meanwhile tonight will see an influx of GAA fans to the capital as Kerry face the Dubs in the Allianz Football League opener at Croke Park. The 7.15pm under lights kick-off will be a rematch of last year’s All-Ireland final. Mickey Harte’s Tyrone side will line out against Kildare at 5pm.
Back in Kildare, human rights group Afri hold their Afri Féile Bríde conference in Kildare town today.
The conference, titled Fire and Food will be addressed by vice-president of the International Peace Bureau Mayra Gomez and will feature musician Herman Tintaya. Both are from Bolivia.
Lectures and workshops will be followed by a seisiún and music from Latin jazz band Manteca.
The weekend will also bring a welcome rise in temperatures to between 7 and 10 degrees.
Today will be cloudy, with light rain or drizzle, heaviest in the west with rain becoming widespread this afternoon, clearing later.
Tomorrow will be dry and bright, becoming cloudier in the afternoon, with outbreaks of rain in the evening. Milder weather will follow on Monday, with temperatures of up to 12 degrees.
JOANNE HUNT