Date: Friday, 13 November Kick-off: 19:00 GMT Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sport website and app, S4C |
Flanker Justin Tipuric returns from illness in the only Wales change for the Autumn Nations Cup opener against Ireland in Dublin on Friday.
Coach Wayne Pivac reverts to the side initially picked against Scotland with Tipuric ruled out on the morning of that defeat by tonsillitis.
Uncapped Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy is on the bench, named in Wales’ matchday squad for the first time.
George North will play his 100th Test if he comes on as a replacement.
The Ospreys wing has won 96 Wales caps and three for the British and Irish Lions.
Prop Tomas Francis will win his 50th cap, while new world record cap holder and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will play his 150th Test.
Changes among the replacements include the return of hooker Elliot Dee, prop Samson Lee and lock Jake Ball.
With North and Sheedy on the bench, there is no place for wing Louis Rees-Zammit or fly-half Rhys Patchell, while back-rows Josh Navidi and Ross Moriarty remain sidelined.
Pivac said: “Friday night is the start of a new international season and a new campaign and we are looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do.
“We have got four matches in the Autumn Nations Cup to perform and we are excited to be kicking the tournament off.”
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rhys Carre, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy, George North.
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