Ireland vs. Wales: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby World Cup Warm-Up

Ireland welcome Wales to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in what will be the last warm-up fixture for both teams prior to coaches Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland naming their World Cup squads on August 31.

Wales helmsman Gatland is under particular pressure to impress in the Irish capital after seeing his side blown out of the Millennium Stadium following a 35-21 defeat to the Boys in Green three weeks ago.

Wales have a chance to tie their Celtic rivals in games won on Irish turf, too, having triumphed in 27 of the 59 matches played between these two teams in Ireland, while the hosts have won 28, drawing four.

This fixture tends to have a certain amount of pride at stake irrespective of circumstances, but it just so happens Saturday's meeting is that bit more special, with viewing information and preview detailed ahead.

Date: Saturday, August 29

Time: 2:30 p.m. BST/9:30 a.m. ET

Live Stream: Sky Go app (UK), SuperSport stream (SA)

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport 7 (SA)

Dragons in Need of Red-Hot Form

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It's no secret by now that a fiercely demanding and correctly dubbed Pool of Death awaits Wales at the World Cup, with hosts England joining Australia, Fiji and Uruguay in the tightest group contest.

Needless to say the demolition at Ireland's hands earlier this month hardly boosted Welsh hopes, but a victory in Dublin this weekend would go a long way to restoring tournament prospects.

As things stand, Wales may not be considered favourites to get out of Pool A, with England boasting a Twickenham advantage in their key clashes while the Wallabies have just won a Rugby Championship crown.

It's therefore understandable why Wales Online columnist Barry John would highlight Saturday's warm-up fixture as being of huge importance, a game where Gatland must select his strongest XV:

"

We need to try and forget what happened in Cardiff against Ireland where there was a falseness about the occasion with the experimental side Wales fielded. Now for this game in Ireland, Warren Gatland will have to select the best possible side allowing for injuries. He would be a fool not to.

If Wales don’t perform in these matches and come a poor second against a very powerful and well organised Irish team, they will be on a real backward step in terms of preparation. The players will react and the senior figures will realise it has to be a successful job if there is to be any confidence restored within the camp and the Welsh public itself.

"

Pre-tournament form isn't necessarily the greatest factor when assessing title chances—after all, France appear to have a habit in overachieving in such matters—but it is crucial for the players themselves.

The pressure on world No. 2-ranked Ireland isn't as great, and prop Jack McGrath told Irish Rugby's official YouTube channel Saturday's tie will be "a good marker" for Europe's in-form team:

Not to say Ireland's job is much easier in Pool D, however, with upcoming opponents France having shown their credentials with a weekend win over England, while Italy can also pose a challenge.

The Aviva Stadium will witness one team with the weight of the world on their shoulders going up against a host enjoying buoyant form under Schmidt, with both sides viewing this as anything but a "warm-up."

Irish Pride at Stake

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It's been almost four years since Wales defeated Ireland 22-10 in Wellington to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a result marking the second of a three-match winning spree for the Welsh over their Irish foes.

It was a feat they hadn't managed since claiming five successive victories against their Celtic rivals between 1975 and 1979, but the landscape of European rugby has changed dramatically once again since that date. 

Schmidt has very arguably taken this Ireland team on to greater heights than ever before, and while their recent rise through the IRB rankings is all well and good, there's an inevitably tribal nature about a meeting with Wales.

One of those looking to gain revenge over Gatland's side was present in New Zealand four years ago, and Ireland winger Tommy Bowe described that day as one of his darkest ever, per Anthony Woolford of Wales Online:

"

Anybody who was involved against Wales in the quarter-final four years ago, I’ve never experienced heartbreak like it. Nothing against Wales, they were the better team on the day and outplayed us, but it still eats back at me, that we had the opportunity to make it to the semi-final to play France. You always think, ‘what if?’

We had beaten Australia to top our group, the craic among the squad on and off the pitch... it was just a great tour. We’re going into this competition with maybe a bit more pressure on us because people will have a bit more expectation, but as a squad we know we have one of the best opportunities we’ve had to do well over there.

"

Bowe will be one of those with an opportunity to find out exactly "what if" in 2015. Of all the northern hemisphere teams, it appears Ireland have the power to rival the bastions from Down Under for this year's crown.

As aforementioned, the game against Wales isn't the time to take risks, with the Irish Independent's Ruaidhri O'Connor reporting Schmidt is treating the tie with a serious approach:

A shock upset on Saturday wouldn't be the end of Ireland's World Cup hopes, but it would certainly expose them as a vulnerable and human entity, something the All Blacks tend not to do around major tournaments.

If they're to go into the World Cup with heads held high and trophy hopes even higher, they must ensure they're showing the rest of the world just what a fearsome threat they truly are.