Ireland: Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster, capt), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan (capt), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans, Joe Roberts.
From PA: Scarlets back Ellis Mee will make his Test debut when Wales begin life after Warren Gatland against Guinness Six Nations title favourites Ireland on Saturday.
The Nottingham-born wing, whose mother is from Newport, is among eight personnel changes made by interim head coach Matt Sherratt following Wales’ 22-15 loss to Italy.
That was Gatland’s final match at the helm, with Wales suffering a 14th successive Test defeat and eighth Six Nations reversal in a row.
Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn and outhalf Gareth Anscombe were recalled by Sherratt after Gatland left them out of his Six Nations squad, and go straight into the starting line-up.
Llewellyn forms a midfield partnership with Ben Thomas, who moves from outhalf, as Wales’ starting centres against Italy – Nick Tompkins and Eddie James – drop out.
The Wales team to play Ireland has been announced!
Simon Easterby was coy on reports linking him to the vacant Wales job, reports Gerry Thornley.
“I didn’t really know that I had been linked,” said Easterby through a grin which suggested the complete opposite after inevitably being asked about the possibility.
“No, of course there’s been speculation and that’s what it is, speculation. I’m not in control of that. I love what I do here. I’ve been in this position with the team for a long time and I’m very fortunate with the people I get to work with, both management and players, and for me it’s a dream job.
“Speculation is exactly that, it’s speculation, and not something that I can control.”
[ Simon Easterby focused on present but does not rule himself out of Wales jobOpens in new window ]
Easterby looks to experience for Six Nations battle
While Easterby cited the midfield as an area of strength where they could again rotate, in promoting Osborne for his fourth Test start and Thomas Clarkson for his first, the Irish interim head coach said there were certain positions which they needed to generate more depth and experience.
“It’s one thing playing in November internationals, which the likes of Jamie did against Fiji but it’s another thing getting the experience of playing in the Millennium Stadium with the roof closed in a Six Nations game.
“So, those types of things for Jamie and Tom will be new and we believe they will thrive in the environment. Until you get those chances you don’t really know and I think that’s the excitement of what we have selected.”
Asked if the Welsh change in head coach following the appointment of Matt Sherratt as interim successor to Warren Gatland would make Wales more dangerous, Easterby said:
“I think Wales are always dangerous. You can read into whatever around the results and performances but at home in the Principality they’re a different beast. We have to respect that. They’re playing in front of their home crowd, there’s huge passion for the game in Wales.
“Whatever has gone on in the last few weeks I think for them it’s been disappointing but they’ll feel like this is a fresh start and they’ll be able to go and impress Matt [Sheratt] and instil some of the things that he’ll want the team to stand for and I think that gives them an opportunity.
“For us it’s about making sure that we get our own house in order and we go there with confidence with what we’ve done over the last few weeks but also understand that we need to be better in certain areas as well and that’s the challenge, I guess, for the group that’s been picked this week.”
Reaction from the Simon Easterby presser from Gerry Thornley
On Dan Sheehan:
Explaining the rationale behind the decision to make Sheehan captain, Simon Easterby said: “As you know, Dan has a lot of influence in the way he plays and he’s been part of the leadership group for a good while in the team.
“We probably just feel like he is in a really good place himself coming back from injury and the way he influenced the game in the first couple of rounds coming off the bench.
“With Caelan not available this weekend, we just felt like it was a good time for Dan to grow that leadership within the group, to grow another player in experiencing something a little bit different around the week and how he handles that.
“He’s captained Leinster at various teams as well, so it’s not something he hasn’t done before.”
Simon Easterby said of the team announcement in the official press release: “Playing Wales in Cardiff is one of the great tests and we know the challenge that awaits us. With a new coaching set-up in place, Wales will be re-energised and determined to impress in front of a vocal home support.
“There will also be a huge Irish travelling support which, when added to the closed roof and the great respect and rivalry between the two nations, will add to an electric atmosphere.
“We have made a few changes to the squad this week, some of which were enforced, and we’re confident that the 23 we have selected are primed and ready to go. Dan Sheehan’s selection as captain is recognition of his high standing within the squad, both on and off the pitch. I have no doubt that he will relish the opportunity to lead Ireland for the first time.
“Equally, I would also like to congratulate Jack Boyle on his inclusion in the squad for the first time. Jack has impressed for his province, Leinster, and in the national training camps over the last number of months and he is a young forward with a bright future.”
We will have more quotes from the press conference, which takes place around 10am.
More from Gerry:
“In addition to Sheehan’s recall at hooker for his first start since the First Test in South Africa last July, there are six other changes in personnel from the starting XV for the 32-18 win over Scotland at Murrayfield last time out.
“In the backs, the 23-year-old Jamie Osborne will win his sixth cap and make his fourth start at fullback, Mack Hansen returns from his hamstring issue on the rightwing and Garry Ringrose is restored from the bench to outside centre with Leinster midfield partner Robbie Henshaw moving to inside centre as Easterby juggles his midfield for a third time in three games.
“Up front, after winning four caps off the bench, tighthead Thomas Clarkson will make his full international debut on his 25th birthday, lock Joe McCarthy is recalled after missing the opening two games with a head injury sustained in training and the in-form Jack Conan will make his first Test start since the round two win over Italy in last year’s Six Nations.
“As expected, Sam Prendergast has been retained at outhalf after his composed Man of the Match performance in Murrayfield while his brother Cian has been unexpectedly promoted to the bench instead of Ryan Baird. The uncapped Jack Boyle is in line for his Test debut after the 22-year-old Leinster loosehead was named ahead of Cian Healy as Andrew Porter’s back-up.
“Gus McCarthy is also promoted to the replacements after winning two caps in the Autumn Nations Series, with Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Bundee Aki moving to the bench alongside Conor Murray and Jack Crowley.”
From Gerry Thornley:
“Dan Sheehan has been confirmed as the Ireland captain for their 2025 Guinness Six Nations clash against Wales in the Principality Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm). As well as replacing the injured Ronan Kelleher in the Irish frontrow, the 26-year-old Leinster hooker will also assume the captaincy due to the knee problem which has ruled out Caelan Doris from this game.
“In choosing Sheehan ahead of other seemingly more obvious candidates who have more experience of the role provincially and, in the case of Peter O’Mahony, for Ireland, evidently Simon Easterby and the Irish coaches have an eye on the future as well as the present.
“But as well as being a world-class operator in his own right, Sheehan is the same age, 26, as Doris, and has evidently shown the kind of leadership qualities which will make him a viable understudy, vice-captain or stand-in captain over the coming years.”
Gordon D’Arcy writes that Ireland trying to find an emotional challenge this week is a tough sell.
“That’s not meant to be disparaging to Wales. I have been there before; different matches require different stimuli.
“Ireland players must challenge one another to stay sharp and focused. It’s easy to have that mindset when everything is on the line, but it takes a fair amount of individual responsibility to drive the collective when there is ostensibly less pressure.
“Defining what success looks like after playing a team you are meant to beat is always a tough one, as when you win handsomely everyone points to the opposition, while conversely a close match or a loss and it reflects terribly on the group. Ireland’s remit is simple, control the controllables. That will suffice to engineer the desired result.”
The injury news from earlier this week:
Ireland will be without their captain Caelan Doris when they meet Wales in the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Number eight Doris along with hooker Ronán Kelleher and prop Tadhg Furlong also failed their fitness tests leaving Ireland without three frontline forwards for their third game of the Six Nations championship.
“All unavailable for this week,” confirmed Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman. “We are hoping they will be available for France. They are just going through their processes with the physio but they are all making good progress.
“We have got great cover at eight and I’m sure the guy that fills that jersey will do a great job.”
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Ireland team announcement for their third game of the Six Nations, against Wales. It has been an ideal start for Simon Easterby’s men with bonus-point victories against England and Scotland. Next up is a struggling but wounded Welsh side, with Matt Sherratt in temporary charge following Warren Gatland’s decision to step down. Wales lost 14 Test matches in a row, so understandably something had to change. So Ireland will be heavy favourites but will be wary about the backlash from Wales in front of home fans. Captain Caelan Doris is likely to be out for this one, but most of Ireland’s heavy hitters are likely to be selected. We expect the announcement to come about 9am, we will keep you posted.
