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Wales add forward cover ahead of Six Nations trip to Dublin

Head coach Wayne Pivac has added a pair of bodies to his Wales squad ahead of Saturday's Six Nati...



Head coach Wayne Pivac has added a pair of bodies to his Wales squad ahead of Saturday's Six Nations meeting with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. 

Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake and Dragons back-rower Taine Basham have officially joined the Welsh panel before their trip to Dublin.

No players have dropped out of the squad as a result.

20-year old Lake is yet to start a senior game for Ospreys, but is highly thought of by the Swansea-based side. He captained Wales at last year's World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina.

Lake will likely provide back-up for Elliot Dee who has been struggling with a rib injury but is thought to be winning his battle for fitness.

This is not Basham's first call-up to the Wales squad, having been part of preparations for November's Test with the Barbarians.

The 20-year old can play on the openside or at number-8 and has been in decent form for the Dragons this season.

Both Lake and Basham had already been training with Wales behind-the-scenes before their formal addition to the squad.

Wales legend Jonathan Davies joined this morning's OTB AM to look ahead to Saturday's game.

He feels not only has Pivac's introduction made a difference to the Welsh approach, but Stephen Jones' appointment as attack coach is already showing green chutes, "They're playing a little bit wider with [Justin] Tipuric and Ken Owens out there as well.

"If you look at the Scarlets over the last few years, what they've done is they've had a guy who's very good in the jackal and turnovers - whether it's [James] Boyde or James Davies - and then they've gone two passes and counter-attacked a lot.

"I'm sure that they'll attack more from set-piece with Stephen Jones.

"They're looking to counter-attack a little bit more with Johnny McNicholl back there and Josh Adams.

"You're not going to re-invent the wheel, you're going to keep the same kind of systems that they did under Warren Gatland, but hopefully add a little bit more of the Pivac style of play which is trying to play a little bit more rugby.

"So fingers crossed they'll try and attack Ireland if they get a good set-piece and quick ball."

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Read more about

Andy Farrell Barbarians Dewi Lake Dragons Ireland Johnny McNicholl Jonathan Davies Justin Tipuric Ken Owens Ospreys Rugby Scarlets Six Nations Stephen Jones Taine Basham Wales Wayne Pivac