Coach Warren Gatland is counting on some returning old heads to lead his young Wales squad in the Six Nations and create a siege mentality following a team record run of 12 defeats in a row that has plunged the country's rugby into crisis.

Head coach Warren Gatland says he faces the most exciting challenge of his career and warned critics to "write Wales off at their peril".

The loudest stadium in the Six Nations has just got louder after Wales was allowed to close the roof of Principality Stadium for the next two years.

Wales will play all their international fixtures at the Principality Stadium with the roof closed for the next two years after a change of Six Nations protocol.

Max Boyce used to say God preferred the Principality Stadium to be left open so “he can watch his favourites play”. But then Warren Gatland arrived and said “to hell with that”.

Hooker Jamie George will miss England's Six Nations opener against Ireland while scrum-half Alex Mitchell is a doubt with a knee problem.

Jamie George, replaced as England captain by Maro Itoje last week, has been ruled out of their Six Nations opener against Ireland, with scrumhalf Alex Mitchell also a doubt after the squad was hit by a raft of injuries.

Ireland interim coach Simon Easterby is ready to use his years of experience working with the side to take the country to a third successive Six Nations Championship success, and knows the team will need to improve to stay on top.