Today: Week 1Wales vs Ireland 15:00 SS6England vs Scotland 17:30 SS6CARDIFF - Wales will begin their Six Nations title defence against Ireland when two of Europe’s most inconsistent teams meet at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.And they will be even more keen than usual to repeat last season’s tournament opening 23-21 win over Ireland in Dublin after a third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years was followed by a run of seven successive test defeats.Three of those reverses were against the Wallabies in Australia in June to a combined total losing margin of just 11 points but alarm bells were sounded towards the end of 2012 following home losses to Argentina and Samoa. But Wales captain Sam Warburton insisted his side were paying no attention to the prophets of doom.“We weren’t favourites for the title last year and I remember most people wrote us off for the opening game, but not only did we win that game, but the Grand Slam,” Warburton said.While Wales’s recent run of form has been disappointing, they have won their last three tests against Ireland, including a 2011 World Cup quarterfinal.In the pack, Wales interim coach Rob Howley has re-united the 2009 British and Irish Lions front row of Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Adam Jones.Jenkins will become the 23rd player to play in 100 test matches, and only the fourth Welshman, when he wins his 95th Wales cap on Saturday to add to five appearances for the Lions.
