Ireland squad announced for Wales clash

The Ireland coaching group have announced the team to take on Wales in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Paul O'Connell returns to captain the side in his last international on home soil and is partnered in the second row by Iain Henderson.

Jamie Heaslip starts at number eight with Peter O'Mahony lining out on the blind-side flank and Jordi Murphy filling the open-side berth.  The front row consists of Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss and Nathan White – who makes his first international start.

Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton pair up and half-back with Robbie Henshaw and Luke Fitzgerald lining up in the centres. The back three consists of Keith Earls, Dave Kearney with Rob Kearney at full-back.

Among the replacements are Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson and Felix Jones.