Ireland head coach Simon Easterby said on Thursday that he’d had no contact with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as he prepares to take on the team interested in his services.

Easterby is in charge of Ireland for this Six Nations with Andy Farrell now in position with the British & Irish Lions. Under Easterby, Ireland remain on course for a Grand Slam.

But after Warren Gatland left Wales by mutual agreement following a run of 14-straight defeats, Easterby is being considered by the WRU as a possible long-term successor to the New Zealander. However, unlike another contender in Glasgow’s Franco Smith, Easterby has distanced himself from the vacant role, describing his Irish employment as a ‘dream job.’

The former flanker said: ‘I love what I do here. I’ve been in this position for a long time and I’m very fortunate with the people I get to work with. For me, it’s a dream job.

‘Speculation is not something I can control. Right now, this is my only focus. I’ve had no contact with the WRU. For me, it’s all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday.’

Ireland and Wales couldn’t be in more different places going into round three.

Even without injured trio Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher, the absent Hugo Keenan, and Bundee Aki on the bench, Ireland should make it three wins from three in Cardiff on Saturday. Easterby has handed the Ireland captaincy to hooker Dan Sheehan with Doris out.

Wales, meanwhile, are starting again under Matt Sherratt.

Cardiff coach Sherratt is in charge for Wales’ remaining three matches on an interim basis after being parachuted in to replace Gatland at the shortest of notices.

He has ripped up the team from the last one selected by Gatland, bringing fly-half Gareth Anscombe and centre Max Llewellyn straight into the starting XV after calling them up last week. Both Gloucester backs were not named in Gatland’s initial Championship squad.

A hamstring injury suffered in training by Josh Adams means Tom Rogers will be joined on the wing by debutant Ellis Mee for Wales. Sherratt has had just four training sessions to work with Wales ahead of facing Ireland. His aim has been to improve the mood in camp.

‘I don’t feel playing Ireland is a time to experiment,’ Sherratt said, emphasising his back-line selection is based around continuity and cohesion with players he knows well.

Sherratt is currently working with or has previously coached Tomos Williams, Anscombe, Ben Thomas and Llewellyn who are at the heart of his three-quarter division.

He continued: ‘My mindset coming in was just to make sure I enjoy it and I do things my way with the way I think the game should be played.

‘There will be bits missing, but I’ve been pretty pleased we’ve got a framework and the players have some clarity. There’s not been any lack of effort from this squad. They’re massively proud to play for their country. We just needed them to all channel it in the right direction. Hopefully, we’ll see some signs of that against one of the best teams in the world.’

Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Jac Morgan (capt), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans, Joe Roberts

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Kick-off: 2.15pm Saturday. Principality Stadium, Cardiff

TV: BBC