Six Nations 2024: Wales aim to create rugby 'chaos' against Ireland

Wales will aim to create "chaos" when they face the prospect of a trip to take on Six Nations champions Ireland.

Saturday's visitors have not won a game in the tournament in Dublin since 2012, drawing one and losing four of the subsequent fixtures.

Ireland are chasing back-to-back Grand Slams, a feat which no side has achieved in the Six Nations era.

"The challenge for us is making them as uncomfortable as we can," said Wales assistant coach Rob Howley.

"For every minute that we can do that we can ask different questions of them."

Ireland have taken pole position in this year's tournament following emphatic bonus-point victories against 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.

"I think we can be comfortable in a chaos game and challenge them, because they are very well organised," said Howley.

"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 for 80 of those one-minute games."

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 build-up 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.

Howley and Farrell were part of Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions coaching staff on the 2013 and 2017 tours.

"They [Ireland] have come out of the World Cup probably with a slight disappointment, knowing Andy Farrell and how he drives their coaching team," said Howley.

"It's a great opportunity to go to Dublin and face a formidable side. It is something we are looking forward to, and we will look to challenge them at every opportunity."

Wales have lost nine out of 10 of their last Six Nations games, including defeats in this year's opening two matches against Scotland and England by a combined total of just three points.

"There's a disappointment with the last couple of games," said Howley.

"We feel that opportunities which were presented in games, we've hurt ourselves and haven't taken advantage. It doesn't feel like we've lost two, but we have.

"I think the challenge is to put the second half of Scotland with the first half of England together and we might win a game."