Ireland team named for Wales Six Nation clash
The Ireland coaching group have named the match day 23 that will host Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Round 3 of the NatWest 6 Nations Championship.
Captain Rory Best becomes Ireland's third most capped player in his own right as he runs out for his 109th appearance for his country. He is joined in the front row by Cian Healy and Andrew Porter.
Devin Toner and James Ryan form the second row partnership with Peter O'Mahony, Dan Leavy and CJ Stander retained in the backrow.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continue at half-back with Chris Farrell partnering Bundee Aki in the midfield. Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale line out on the wings with Rob Kearney at fullback.
The replacements are Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery and Fergus McFadden.
IRELAND squad v Wales, Saturday 24th February, 2018, Aviva Stadium
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 80 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 64 caps
13. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 2 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 4 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 6 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 70 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 61 caps
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 75 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 108 caps
3. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 55 caps
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 44 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 20 caps
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 58 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 44 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 12 caps
19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 4 caps
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 6 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 19 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 7 caps
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 33 caps