Bundee Aki is back in action for Ireland in this weekend’s Six Nations clash with Wales as the pursuit of another Grand Slam continues.
Andy Farrell has named his squad for the Wales game taking place in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bundee Aki returns to the starting XV to continue his midfield partnership with Robbie Henshaw, while Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley start at scrum-half and out-half respectively.
Peter O’Mahony returns as Captain in his 50th appearance in the Six Nations Championship for Ireland.
Ciaran Frawley is stepping in for Hugo Keenan as a full-back in his first start for Ireland, and he will be joined in the back row by Calvin Nash and James Lowe.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are named in the front row, with Joe McCarthy continuing in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne. O’Mahony skippers the team from the back row, alongside Josh van der Flier at openside flanker and Caelan Doris at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, the uncapped Oli Jager, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Stuart McCloskey complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 for the visit of Wales.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(2)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(3)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(69)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(53)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(28)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(11)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(32)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(61)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(23)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(73)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(7)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(47)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(102)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(59)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(38)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(28)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(126)
18. Oli Jager (Munster)*
19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(61)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(17)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(43)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(113)
23. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(16).
