Ireland head-coach Joe Schmidt says their performance in Saturday's record loss to England was "unacceptable" and "beneath" where they need to be ahead of the World Cup.
"The whole group are very conscious that we have a short period of time that we accelerate what is part of a progression," Schmidt said after training at Carton House.
"We had a vigorous pre-season, we tried to taper but we looked, flat, slow inaccurate and we didn't adjust when we see we were getting troubled.
"Nothing mitigates losing the way we did. We've tried to periodise our lead-in to the World Cup. At this time of season you get some bizarre results."
Prop Cian Healy is "bullish" about his recovery from an ankle injury picked up in that 57-15 defeat at Twickenham but he'll sit out this Saturday's match against Wales.
Schmidt says Johnny Sexton is keen to be involved in Cardiff but he won't be risked unless 100 per cent fit.
"Johnny got put back with thumb injury and was trying to catch up a bit and got stiff and sore. He again is very keen to be involved, if he had to play this weekend he could.
Keith Earls has a knee tendonitis injury and won't play this weekend while Conor Murray trained fully this morning after suffering a knock to his head last Saturday.
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