Wednesday 27 January 2016 16:27, UK
Wales are "slow starters" in the Six Nations and need to impress in their opening two matches, says head coach Warren Gatland.
The Welsh face a tough beginning to their campaign against champions Ireland on February 7 and must travel to Dublin without injured trio Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Scott Williams.
Wales have lost their opening game in two of the last three years - beaten at home by Ireland in 2013 before going on to win the title for the second successive season and last year losing to England in a thriller in Cardiff.
Gatland said: "What Ireland have achieved in the last two years as champions means they'll be tough to knock over.
"Both teams know how big a game it is. We have been notorious slow starters. If we can get that win, with two home games after that then hopefully it will set us up nicely.
"We're still missing Leigh, Scott and Rhys but we have Jonathan Davies coming back. We've got some who are a few weeks away, which is why we perhaps picked a larger squad."
The countries met twice during August last year in World Cup warm-ups, Ireland winning 35-21 in Cardiff before Wales took revenge three weeks' later with a 16-10 victory in Dublin.
Both teams then reached the World Cup quarter-finals before losing to southern hemisphere opponents in contrasting styles, Wales pipped late on by South Africa while the Irish were outclassed by Argentina.
After facing Ireland, Wales host Scotland and then France. They then take on England at Twickenham before concluding their campaign at home to Italy on March 19.
