Wales name their team to play Ireland

Winger Ellis Mee will represent his country for the first time - and it will be cap number 1,211 in the history of Wales' international games.

Jac Morgan will be the captain once again but Tommy Reffell will start his first Championship game this year as an open side forward. Eight man Taulupe Faletau will complete the trinity in the back row to face the Irish.

In the front row, Nicky Smith will start as a loose end prop and his fellow prop will be WillGriff John - who will be playing his first game in the Six Nations Championship. Elliot Dee has been chosen as the catcher.

The partnership of Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins continues in the second row. So is Tomos Williams in the inside position.

The two players from the Gloucester club, Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, have been chosen as a baseman and a midfielder - only a week since they were called up to the squad by Matt Sherratt.

Ben Thomas will keep Llewellyn company in the middle of the field.

Winger Tom Rogers and fullback Blair Murray will complete the back three along with new cap Ellis Mee.

Jarrod Evans has been named among the substitutes - and if he is called from the bench, he will appear for his country for the first time since the summer of 2021. Rhodri Williams and Joe Roberts have been chosen as substitutes from the scouts' point of view.

Evan Lloyd, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams and Aaron Wainwright are the forwards who have been selected on the bench.

Wales Head Coach Matt Sherratt said: “We are all really looking forward to the challenge of facing Ireland.

“We have to be brave and organized – with each individual knowing what is expected of them. We cannot be careless and it is essential that we keep our discipline.

"Everyone is excited to play at home for the first time in this year's Championship. The Welsh fans create an incredible atmosphere at the Principality Stadium and the players are eager to prove that on Saturday."

Team Wales v Ireland
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 5 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 7 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester – 5 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff – 9 caps)
11. Ellis Mee (Scarlets – uncapped)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester – 39 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester – 61 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester – 51 caps)
2. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 53 caps)
3. WillGriff John (Sale – 2 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 38 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter – 20 caps)
6. Jac Morgan (Ops – 20 caps) – captain
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester – 24 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff – 105 caps)

Substitutes

16. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff – 7 caps)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 37 caps)
18. Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 6 caps)
19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff – 3 caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 54 caps)
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 7 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 8 caps)
23. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 2 caps)