Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw had already been ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging a shoulder in the 56-19 home win over the Italians, but Joe Schmidt was also forced to leave out tight head prop Tadhg Furlong and lock Iain Henderson when he announced his side.
Munster centre Chris Farrell takes over Henshaw’s midfield berth alongside Bundee Aki, while the fit-again James Ryan returns to the second row in place of Henderson. Furlong’s Leinster team mate Andrew Porter comes in on the tight head side of the Irish scrum for his first start in the 6 Nations.
Schmidt is also without two more Lions from last summer, Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne, while two time tourist Jamie Heaslip is still on the sidelines with a long term injury. The Irish coach’s problems are almost as bad as though of Welsh counterpart Warren Gatland.
“We are short on experience and we are up against a team welcoming back three Lions while we are saying goodbye to three. We are ready to test the strength of our squad and we would like to think it is as seamless as possible,” said Schmidt.
“There is a little bit about the unknown for us going into this weekend. Two years ago we led 13-3 in Dublin and they got a scrum platform that Toby Faletau scored off.
“They kept the pressure on and in the end they got a draw. That was on the back of us having a few players missing, so hopefully history won’t repeat itself.
“There wasn’t too much between the two teams then or last year. They are usually one score games and that’s why people get excited by this fixture.
“Wales are going to vary their game. They will play with width and also play the ball in the air because they have good players going after it.”
Dan Leavy will remain in the No 7 jersey in the continued absence of O’Brien, packing down alongside the Munster marauders Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. Cian Healy starts ahead of Lions loose head Jack McGrath with skipper Rory Best due to win his 109th cap in his 15th game against Wales.
Ireland v Wales
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster – 80 caps)
14. Keith Earls (Munster – 64)
13. Chris Farrell (Munster – 2)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht – 4)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster – 6)
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster – 70)
9. Conor Murray (Munster – 61)
1. Cian Healy (Leinster – 75)
2. Rory Best (Ulster, captain – 108)
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster – 4)
4. James Ryan (Leinster – 5)
5. Devin Toner (Leinster – 55)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster – 44)
7. Dan Leavy (Leinster – 6)
8. CJ Stander (Munster – 20)
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (Leinster – 58)
17. Jack McGrath (Leinster – 44)
18. John Ryan (Munster – 12)
19. Quinn Roux (Connacht – 4)
20. Jack Conan (Leinster – 6)
21. Kieran Marmion (Connacht – 19)
22. Joey Carbery (Leinster – 7)
23. Fergus McFadden (Leinster – 33)
