Phillips and Ryan Jones not in Wales team

Wales duo Mike Phillips and Ryan Jones have been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Ireland at Croke Park in the RBS 6 Nations.

Head coach Warren Gatland named his team today and revealed that both scrum-half Phillips and back-rower and captain Jones had not been considered due to injury.

Gatland has made three changes in total from the side that was beaten 20-26 by France in their last encounter.

Phillips suffered a knock during Ospreys' Magners League defeat against Edinburgh two days ago and was not available for selection.

Ospreys number eight Jones is nursing a calf-muscle injury and will be replaced by Gloucester captain Gareth Delve. Flanker Martyn Williams will lead the side in Jones' absence.

Hooker Matthew Rees and lock Luke Charteris also come into the pack. Rees, who makes his first start of this season's Six Nations after recovering from injury, replaces Huw Bennett and Charteris takes over from the injured Deiniol Jones.

Wales have been able to name a strong backline comprising Lee Byrne, Lee Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones and Ritchie Rees.

Dwayne Peel has been drafted onto the bench while Gareth Delve, who rejoined the squad last week, starts in the back-row.

And there is also place among the substitutes for experienced Ospreys lock Ian Gough as Wales look to revive their Six Nations campaign after recording one win from three starts.

In-form Delve, meanwhile, wins a first Wales cap since the 2008 South Africa tour, and Williams captains Wales for the seventh time in his long Test career.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said: 'Ryan has been managing his calf, but it has hampered his involvement in training. He needs to get it right for his own sake, as well as for his region, who have some big matches of their own coming up, and for the sake of the national cause as we count down to the World Cup.

'But it is an opportunity for Martyn, who is one of our key leaders, to captain Wales again and rise to that challenge after doing a good job against Scotland last year when Ryan was again forced to withdraw.

'This is is a great opportunity for Gareth Delve, who we have been keeping a close eye on and who is also a leader himself.

'We feel we have a loose forward trio here who will be competitive.

The Wales coached has been criticised for launching verbal volleys that have done to fire up opposition sides than his own team in the past but resisted that temptation at today's press conference.

He said: 'Ireland are an impressive and experienced side with a pack of players who have been around for a long time and who are tough players.

'We know we need to improve, but we do think we have the talent and ability in this squad to match any squad and are confident we are good enough to win this match if we can get things right on the day.'

WALES team to face Ireland in the RBS Six Nations at Croke Park on Saturday, 13 March at 2.30pm:

Wales XV: L Byrne; L Halfpenny, J Hook, J Roberts, S Williams; S Jones, R Rees; P James, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, L Charteris, J Thomas, G Delve, M Williams (capt).

Substitutes: H Bennett, R Gill, I Gough, S Warburton, D Peel, A Bishop, T Shanklin.