Paul O'Connell: Ireland ready to face Wales' new leaders in a post-Alun Wyn Jones world

Having toured with the British & Irish Lions on three occasions, O'Connell has plenty of experience in playing alongside a bygone era of Welsh greats. As the likes of Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric all ended their international careers throughout recent years, O'Connell understands the vacuum that this left within the Welsh leadership group. The Ireland legend shared how his squad have endured their own recent passing of the torch, after some Irish all-timers also hung up the boots.

"I was thinking this morning about some of the players that have left [the Wales squad]. The Sam Warburtons of this world, Justin Tipuric's, Alun Wyn Jones, the influence they have around the playing group is absolutely massive. We've experienced it ourselves here [with Ireland], with with the likes of Johnny [Sexton] Peter O'Mahony, Connor Murray going.

"Guys that in how they train, and how they prepare and how they care about the team, the difference they make to everyone around them is phenomenal. So, I'm sure a few of those leaders are going to begin to emerge now from them [Wales] over the next few years. I think they have what it takes to start getting better. We've seen it already. I don't think some of the results that we've seen in the past from Wales are going to continue."

Whilst Wales once again got off to an underwhelming start in the 2026 Six Nations with heavy defeats to England and France, O'Connell has no doubt in how the Dragon will be back from the ashes before too long. The former Ireland captain was quick to praise the quality of the Wales coaching ticket, with some great rugby minds re-building the squad.

"I really like the coaches they have." O'Connell added. "I know Danny Wilson really well from his time in Harlequins. They wouldn't have had the fastest line-out jumpers at Harlequins. Irne Herbst, the big South African, Joe Launchbury, pretty great players, but probably not the greatest line-out jumpers in the world. So, he's [Wilson] a really good set piece coach.

"Scotland have always been very tough for us to attack against under Steve Tandy. You know exactly what he stands for, pressure at the ruck all the time. Very connected. Matt [Sherratt - Wales attack coach], last year, we turned up in Principality Stadium, and in a very short period of time, he had them playing some really good attacking rugby."

"They've [Wales] got a coaching group that really know what they stand for." O'Connell added. "They have really good players, good athletes. They just need that direction and guidance from a good coaching group. I think they're going to get that. They're going through tough times in the last few years, they're still going to have to go through them, but they'll get better."

With the heart-breaking news that the Ospreys are set for an uncertain future, and a plethora of Wales talents agreeing moves across to the PREM or France, there is no denying that the 'Land of Our Fathers' has been struggling from a recent rugby standpoint. However, O'Connell expressed how his side are less concerned with the outside noise around Wales, compared to his own playing days.

"We don't expose ourselves to it, maybe as much as other people do for us. It's about getting excited about doing our thing, and that's what it's always been since I've come in under Andy [Farrell]." He added. "We focus on the opposition, but less than we did in my playing days."

"You've seen hints of this in the last few months. Wales are going to get better and better, but for us, it's mainly just about us and our performance. We're expecting a tough game, but we want to see us getting better at what we do."

The 2026 Six Nations has been a testament to Ireland's resilience and squad depth, with Andy Farrell calling upon fringe and former players to reinforce the ranks throughout the Championship. O'Connell expressed how such golden opportunities will be the making of the inexperienced international talents, as the squad continues to build up it's pecking order 17 months removed from the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

"Over the past few years, we've had a very experienced team on the field, that's changed a little bit. So, the French experience, the South African experience [Autumn Series] for so many of the guys, even the Italy game, is a great experience for them [new Ireland players].

"I think our best players, that have the most influence, are the guys that are the most consistent in how they train and prepare. On the back of that, they're the most consistent in how they play. We need that across the board, but guys need experience to learn as well, you get better on the back of that.

"I would hope that we continue in the vein that we were in England, in terms of some of the habits, the relentlessness we saw from the players. I would hope that will continue and improve this weekend."

O'Connell then revealed how lock Ryan Baird has been sorely missed throughout the campaign, yet the Leinster man's absence has opened the door for the likes of Edwin Edogbo and Cian Prendergast to run the ropes within the Ireland squad. Also, the multiple prop injuries forced Farrell's hand to usher in the group of Michael Milne, Jeremy Loughman and Tom O'Toole. The Munster legend reaffirmed how when injury closes a door, another opens upon the international rugby stage.

"Any injury, same as James Lowe, or Paddy McCarty or whatever, iss just an opportunity for us to give someone else a chance. It's an opportunity for that player to grab a hold of it, to show the leadership that's required and make the squad more and more competitive.

"It'll be great to have Ryan Baird back when he's playing, and he's fit and well, because he adds massively to us. But, an injury is an opportunity for someone else, for us to broaden the squad."