As Warren Gatland named his team to face Ireland in Dublin, the main story was the inclusion of George North.
The Northampton Saints wing will mark his return from a concussion by starting on Saturday.
North, who has been absent since March, will win his 50th cap as part of a strong side in Wales’ second warm-up match.
Gatland has named a near-full-strength team after blooding a number of squad players in an experimental side in the reverse match in Cardiff.
Ospreys lock Alun-Wyn Jones will captain the squad in the absence of Sam Warburton, who is carrying a slight knock, with Justin Tipuric starting at openside.
Meanwhile, Paul O’Connell will captain Ireland in his last home international.
Joe Schmidt’s side have risen to second in the world and were dominant as their second-string ran riot in Cardiff three weeks ago.
And Schmidt has also named a strong side as Ireland look to continue their unbeaten preparations for the World Cup.
So how do the two teams compare?
What if you were to compare each player by rating them out of ten?
Obviously my less-than-scientific barometer of rugby talent is hardly going to do the players justice and, of course, there is the old cliché of rugby being played on grass, not paper.
But regardless of all that, here is how the two teams compare.
Fullback
We start at fullback where both nations can boast world-class talent.
Leigh Halfpenny has become indispensable to Wales with his metronomic goal-kicking, brave tackling and defensive positioning leading to him earning accolades and awards since switching to 15 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Rob Kearney has been ever-present in the Ireland since 2008, with the Dundalk-born back a key component in three Six Nations titles in that time.
Both have impressed in recent Lions tours and their countries will be expecting them to deliver on the biggest stage this time around.
Kearney: 9
Halfpenny: 9
Right wing
Both players selected at 14 face a battle to secure selection this Saturday.
For Alex Cuthbert, the situation seems clear. Either he, Hallam Amos or Eli Walker make the squad – a straight shootout for the place.
The connotations of Kearney’s situation is far more diluted. The younger of the Kearney brothers would appear to be in pole position, but both Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe will appear for Ulster this weekend in a bid to prove their fitness.
With Schmidt stating these players are in contention, it will take a big performance from the solid-if-unspectacular Kearney to make the cut.
Meanwhile, Cuthbert will be aiming to recapture the form that led him to be one of test rugby’s most lethal finishers earlier in his career.
Kearney: 7
Cuthbert: 8
Outside centre
As Ireland prepare for their first World Cup without Brian O’Driscoll, the man tasked with wearing his iconic 13 jersey for the match on Saturday at least is Luke Fitzgerald.
A British and Irish Lion, Fitzgerald will aim to lay down a marker in midfield after starting on the wing against Scotland last week.
When injury-free, he is electric and can pose a threat to many a defence.
On the topic of filling someone else’s boots, that is the challenge facing Scott Williams as he aims to fill the void of Jonathan Davies as the Clermont man misses out through injury.
The hard-running Scarlet has a knack of scoring important tries and his importance in the squad is clear as he became the first back in the Gatland era to captain Wales against Ireland in Cardiff.
Fitzgerald: 7
Wiliams: 8
Inside centre
In Jamie Roberts, Wales have one of the most effective ball-carriers in world rugby.
When on-form, he get Wales over the gain line time and time again, playing a vital part in their gameplan.
Robbie Henshaw, meanwhile, was the breakout star of this year’s Six Nations, cementing his place as Ireland’s first choice inside centre.
One thing for certain is that both these players won’t be playing for selection on Saturday.
Henshaw: 8
Roberts: 9
Left wing
Three weeks ago, Keith Earls tore apart an inexperienced Wales defence to shreds in Cardiff.
The Munster back scored one try and was a constant threat in a man of the match performance.
On the other side, George North will return to rugby after an enforced break through concussion to win his 50th cap at the age of 23-years-old.
A genuinely world-class talent, Gatland will be hoping the man known as ‘Gogzilla’ shows no ill-effects of his time out of the game.
Earls: 8
North: 9
Fly-half
Both Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar could both lay claim to being the form fly-half in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sexton is adept at orchestrating Schmidt’s gameplan with his precise, tactical kicking often choking other teams to death.
Meanwhile, Biggar has made the 10 shirt his own, beating off the competition of Rhys Priestland and Gareth Anscombe to become one of the first names on the team sheet.
Sexton: 9
Biggar: 8
Scrum-half
If both countries can boast two of the best fly-halfs in the world, the same can be said for their half-back partners.
Rhys Webb has taken to international rugby like a duck to water, with his fast delivery, dangerous sniping and try-scoring record effectively ending Mike Phillips’ Wales career.
Over the Irish sea, Murray has made waves as he has steered Ireland to successive Six Nation titles.
Murray: 9
Webb: 9
Number eight
On Saturday, Jamie Heaslip and Taulupe Faletau will renew a rivalry which peaked when the two battled to start for the Lions in Australia.
Back then, the two were evenly matched, with Heaslip starting the first two tests but Faletau getting the nod for the decisive 41-16 win.
Both are quality players who offer consistency and assured yards.
Heaslip: 8
Faletau: 8
Openside flanker
With captain Sam Warburton carrying a knock, it gives Justin Tipuric another chance to impress.
Dynamic and pacey, the flanker combines back row nous with the skillset of an outside back.
Meanwhile, the hard-working Jordi Murphy has a chance to prove his worth after watching flank-rival Chris Henry score against Scotland last week.
Murphy: 7
Tipuric: 8
Blindside flanker
In Peter O’Mahoney, Ireland has one of the finest exponents of the ‘dark arts’.
The Munster back row has a knack of getting over the ball carrier and securing a turnover or penalty – even when it appears he should not be able to.
Meanwhile, Dan Lydiate has become the master of the chop tackle – taking down ball-carriers behind the gain line by hitting them at ankle height.
However, the Ospreys forward has proved he is not a one-trick pony with his high work-rate and deft skills as shown when he set up Dan Biggar’s try against France this year.
O’Mahoney: 9
Lydiate: 8
Number five lock
Paul O’Connell and Alun Wyn Jones are quite simply the driving forces of their countries.
O’Connell will captain his nation in what will be his final home appearance as the 35-year-old looks to end his illustrious career on a high.
Jones will also be leading his country out in the absence of skipper Warburton.
Both men lead by example and will be pivotal to their side’s chances this Autumn.
O’Connell: 9
Jones: 9
Number four lock
If O’Connell and Jones are the big names of the second row, then Iain Henderson and Bradley Davies are far more unassuming.
Davies has proved himself on the international stage, although indiscipline and the form of others have meant he has missed out on selection.
Meanwhile, Henderson has been in fine form as the Ulster lock edges towards a World Cup place.
Henderson: 7
Davies: 7
Tighthead prop
Tomas Francis will make his debut for Wales as Warren Gatland looks for an alternative for Samson Lee in case he does not recover from injury.
The Exeter Chiefs prop is highly regarded by Gatland who will be glad to cap him before England could come calling.
For Ireland, Kiwi-born Nathan White will continue his late World Cup surge as the 33-year-old starts for the first time after making his debut off the bench against Scotland last week.
White: 7
Francis: 6
Hooker
Both Ireland and Wales currently have three hookers each in their squad so, barring injury, there will be changes there.
So on Saturday, the objective for Richardt Strauss and Ken Owens will be to force their way into the matchday squads.
Owens is notable for off-the-bench impact so will desperate to show he can start at this level while Strauss will be aiming to overtake Rory Best and Sean Cronin.
Strauss: 7
Owens: 7
Loosehead prop
If Wales are struggling with injuries at tighthead, then it is Ireland who have a problem at loosehead – British and Irish Lion Cian Healy facing a race against time to make the squad following a neck injury.
However in Jack McGrath they have an able replacement.
The Leinster prop was part of the front row which took apart Wales in Cardiff three weeks ago.
However, he will have to face the formidable challenge of Gethin Jenkins, with the all-action loosehead set to take part in his last World Cup.
McGrath: 8
Jenkins: 8
Combined ratings
Ireland: 121
Wales: 121
So there you have it. On paper, it would appear they are level.
Of course, it is far from that simple and many people would have very different opinions.
One thing for certain is that if the game on Saturday is as close as these ratings, it could be quite a match.
