Jacob Stockdale has earned a recall to the Ireland side, with Andy Farrell making five changes to his starting team for Friday's Guinness Six Nations meeting with Wales at Aviva Stadium (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Ulster’s Stockdale comes in for James Lowe on the left wing, with Lowe ruled out for the remainder of the championship due to a groin injury.
Leinster’s Tommy O’Brien had come off the bench to replace Lowe early in the 42-21 win against England at Twickenham, but Stockdale is preferred in the 11 shirt this week, as he makes his first appearance since the championship opener against France in Paris.
Bundee Aki hasn’t been included in the squad, despite returning from his four-game suspension, with Tom Farrell and Ciarán Frawley named as the outside back replacements.
Ulster’s Nathan Doak has been preferred to Craig Casey on the bench, with the 24-year-old scrum-half set for his senior debut.
Four of the five changes come in the pack, with Tom O’Toole replacing Jeremy Loughman at loosehead prop after two impressive bench cameos. Munster’s Loughman drops out of the squad due to a calf injury, with his provincial team-mate Michael Milne named among the replacements.
Head coach Andy Farrell has also made a swap at hooker, with Rónan Kelleher coming in to join O’Toole and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, with Tom Stewart and Thomas Clarkson the hooker and tighthead replacements.
There is further rotation in the pack, with Jack Conan and Nick Timoney (above) brought in for starts.
Timoney is rewarded for his excellent form off the bench in the opening three games, replacing Josh van der Flier at openside flanker, for his first ever Six Nations start.
Conan starts at blindside flanker and takes the place of Joe McCarthy, with Tadhg Beirne moving up to join James Ryan in the second row as a result, while captain Caelan Doris completes the pack at number 8.
Jamison Gibson-Park will lead the Ireland team out on to the pitch Friday night, with the scrum-half named for his 50th Irish cap, and he continues alongside Jack Crowley in the half-backs.
Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose continue their centre partnership, with Jamie Osborne starting his fourth game in a row at full-back, while Rob Baloucoune is retained on the right wing.
Farrell will continue with a 5:3 split on his bench, with McCarthy and Van der Flier the loose forward replacements.
Ireland (v Wales): Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nathan Doak, Tom Farrell, Ciarán Frawley.
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