Wales rule out fly-half Costelow for Ireland trip

Wales fly-half Sam Costelow has been ruled out of the Six Nations trip to face Ireland on Friday night.

Costelow, 25, suffered an ankle injury in the second half of the 26-23 defeat by Scotland nine days ago but was retained in the Wales squad last week.

The Scarlets number 10 is not fit to travel to Dublin but could still be involved in the tournament finale against Italy on 14 March in Cardiff.

Costelow is set to be replaced by either Jarrod Evans or Dan Edwards, who was dropped against Scotland after starting the previous seven matches.

Wales head coach Steve Tandy will officially name his team on Wednesday and will also have to replace injured flanker Taine Plumtree, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder issue.

Tandy has already added Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti and Dragons flanker Ryan Woodman to the squad for the fourth game of this year's campaign.

Wales have lost 24 out of the past 26 internationals and are looking to halt a Six Nations run of 14 successive defeats that stretches back three years.

Wales have not beaten Ireland away in the Six Nations since 2012 or achieved a victory in Dublin since 2015.

Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt praised Costelow on his return and believes there is competition for the coveted number 10 shirt.

"There's a real tussle going on with the 10s at the moment," said Sherratt.

"Dan was starting in the autumn and started the Six Nations. Sam has trained the house down and deserved that start.

"It's up to the two remaining for this week now to fight it out to start the weekend."

Sherratt says he was impressed by Edwards' reaction after he was dropped for the Scotland game.

"He was great and I had a good long chat with Dan after the first round of games [against England]," said Sherratt.

"If you look at all 10s - again, it's probably all the interest in the Six Nations - and the likes of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, very rarely does a 10 go all the way through a campaign.

"Dan had played seven games on the bounce for Wales, which is a good shift for a young lad.

"There is going to be some rest and rotation because part of the big picture leading up to the World Cup in 2027 is developing squad depth."

Edwards has mainly been used in the starting spot by Wales, while Evans has been utilised as a replacement designed to make an impression from the bench.

"I don't think that's been anything we've talked about massively," said Sherratt.

"We feel sometimes with Jarrod, when the game is broken up, he comes on and there's clarity in terms of how we need to finish a game.

"He's finished games brilliantly, and Japan is the obvious one, but I think back to the last Six Nations as well.

"He came on at the end of the Scotland game in particular and he gets your attack flowing.

"So there is a little bit of that with Jarrod, he's a very good impact player, can cover two positions, but all three 10s are in the mix to start when they are fit."