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Ireland coach Joe Schmidt claims Wales have made a direct appeal to Six Nations bosses for the Principality Stadium roof to closed for Saturday’s Grand Slam clash.

Under tournament regulations, both teams have to agree for the roof to be closed, with the default position being it remains open if there is no agreement.

The weather forecast for Saturday is looking awful, with heavy rain and high winds predicted - and two weather warnings issued by the Met Office .

Wales’ preference has always been for the roof to be closed, but they are expecting Ireland to want it open, with the visitors having to let them know 24 hours before kick-off.

Schmidt is yet to reveal Ireland’s decision, but has hinted they will want it open after accusing Wales of sprinkling the pitch last time around after the two sides agreed for it to be closed, making it wet anyway.

“There’s been a request go in to the Six Nations that it be closed,” he said.

“There’s been a request from Wales that, in the interest of the quality of game and the very poor weather forecast, that the roof be closed.

(Image: Wales News Service)

“They have said to the Six Nations directly, can it be closed.

“For us, I think the last time it was closed, we arrived there and there was a lot said about making it good for spectators – and the sprinklers were on for 30 minutes and the ground was very, very damp before the game started.

“So that probably enters into our minds about which closed is it going to be?

“Is it going to be closed and wet? Or is it going to be closed and dry?

“If it’s closed and wet we might as well have the window open and let the rain come in.”

(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Asked to clarify what the situation will be on Saturday, Schmidt said: “At the moment, I’m not sure about the roof.

“For us – last time we said ‘look we don’t mind, you choose’ – and they chose closed, but made the field incredibly wet at the start of the game.

“So we will probably be happy enough if it’s open anyway.

“We’ll adapt to whatever conditions the game’s played in. And if the Six Nations decide it’s going to be closed – it’ll be closed and we’ll play in those conditions. And if they decide that it will be open then we’ll play in those conditions.

“We will adapt.

“It’s pretty clear – they’ve made an appeal to the Six Nations, we’re part of the Six Nations, we have to see what they decide now.”

It comes after Warren Gatland revealed at his press conference , which took place before Schmidt's, that they were bracing themselves for the roof to be open.

"My only concern is that if it is pouring down with rain then we have a responsibility to the game, to make it a spectacle.

"I don’t see the point in having the opportunity to close the roof and having to play in the weather conditions.

"But that’s out of our hands.

"It’s not something we’ve spoken about. We’ve just presumed that Ireland would be like England and ask for it to be open.

"There’s no doubt that it does create a bit more of an atmosphere when it’s closed.

"Some teams can handle that and some teams can’t. That said, I thought the atmosphere for the England game was up there."