Wales boosted by fitness of Priestland and Roberts

WALES have been given a boost for their opening Six Nations match with Ireland on Sunday  as fly-half Rhys Priestland and centre Jamie Roberts were passed fit on Friday.

Both are over knee problems but flanker Dan Lydiate has failed to recover from an ankle injury and joins joins Gethin Jenkins (knee), Luke Charteris (wrist), Alun-Wyn Jones (toe), Matthew Rees (calf strain) and Lloyd Burns (neck).

Ireland are five-point favourites for the clash at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Wales team: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; R Gill, H Bennett, A Jones,
B Davies, I Evans, R Jones, S Warburton, T Faletau; replacements: K Owens , P James, A Powell, J Tipuric, L Williams, J Hook, S Williams.