Joe Schmidt has made two changes to the team that will take on the Welsh at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.
Two of the old dogs have arisen from their sick beds for the Kiwi’s second Six Nations match in charge.
Paul O’Connell has recovered from a chest infection to skipper the good ship Ireland in the second row so Dan Tuohy moves to the bench.
It’s the only alteration to the replacements as Luke Marshall has been dropped altogether to accommodate the return of Gordon D’Arcy.
The inside centre’s tackling ferocity is badly needed in a channel containing two burly Welshmen in Jamie Roberts and George North. The partnership of the number 12 with Brian O'Driscoll sees the pair consolidate their world record for appearances in the centre to 53.
O'Connell sat alongside Schmidt at the team announcement this afternoon and declared himself fit and well albeit with a little cough - the big man was pumping iron down in Limerick yesterday in preparation for Wales.
IRELAND Team & Replacements v Wales, Aviva Stadium, Dublin,
RBS 6 Nations Championship, Saturday 8th February kick-off 14.30 GMT
Player/Club/Province/Caps
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 50
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 51
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 129
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 76
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 3
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 39
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 23
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 61
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 10
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 20
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 88 capt
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 11
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 35
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 71
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 43
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 31
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 4
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 1
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 8
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 3
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 18
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 6
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 22
Image © www.inpho.ie
