The Scarlets back Ellis Mee will make his Test debut when Wales begin life after Warren Gatland against Six Nations title favourites Ireland on Saturday, while Dan Sheehan has been named captain of a Simon Easterby’s much-changed visiting team in Cardiff.
The Nottingham-born wing Mee, 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.
Quick Guide
Wales v Ireland: Six Nations teams
Show
Wales: B Murray (Scarlets); T Rogers (Scarlets), M Llewellyn (Gloucester), B Thomas (Cardiff), E Mee (Scarlets); G Anscombe (Gloucester), Tomos Williams (Gloucester); N Smith (Leicester), E Dee (Dragons), W John (Sale Sharks), W Rowlands (Racing 92), D Jenkins (Exeter), J Morgan (Ospreys, capt), T Reffell (Leicester), T Faletau (Cardiff). Replacements: E Lloyd (Cardiff), G Thomas (Ospreys), H Thomas (Scarlets), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), A Wainwright (Dragons), R Williams (Dragons), J Evans (Harlequins), J Roberts (Scarlets).
Ireland: J Osborne (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster, captain), T Clarkson (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), P O’Mahony (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements: G McCarthy (Leinster), J Boyle (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), B Aki (Connacht).
Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn and fly-half 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 fly-half, as Wales’ starting centres against Italy – Nick Tompkins and Eddie James – drop out.
Sheehan has been named captain of a much-changed Ireland team. With fellow hooker Ronan Kelleher ruled out by a neck injury and regular captain Caelan Doris sidelined with a knee issue, Sheehan will become the 111th man to lead Ireland.
The 26-year-old will make his first Test start since tearing an ACL during last summer’s tour of South Africa following cameos in his country’s championship wins over England and Scotland.
The interim head coach Simon Easterby has made seven personnel alterations to the team which began the 32-18 round-two victory at Murrayfield as the reigning champions seek to remain on course for a third consecutive title by clinching the triple crown.
after newsletter promotion
Jack Conan will fill in for Doris at No 8 and Jamie Osborne replaces Hugo Keenan at full-back for his Six Nations debut, while there is a maiden Test start for Leinster prop Tom Clarkson. There are also recalls for lock Joe McCarthy, centre Garry Ringrose and wing Mack Hansen.
Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Bundee Aki move to the replacements, while wing Calvin Nash, who was a late injury replacement for Hansen in Edinburgh, joins Kelleher, Doris and Keenan in dropping out of the matchday squad.
Uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle, 22, is in line for his international debut from a bench also containing Connacht forward Cian Prendergast, the elder brother of fly-half Sam Prendergast.
