Three of those changes are positional, and all in the backs: Harri Doel moves from fullback to wing, Osian Knott from outside to inside centre; and Louis Rees-Zammit goes from right to left wing.
Only captain Jac Morgan (openside) and Teddy Williams (second row) remain in their original position from Wales’ starting XV for the first game of the tournament – a 22-14 loss to France in Ystrad Mynach on Saturday.
Wales U18 coach Chris Horsman, who aims to give his entire squad game time during the tournament, said his team “took a huge amount of positives” from the French game. “The crucial thing is now we have two more opportunities to get better and we need to look at what we can do better,” said the former international tighthead.
“The whole team fronted up well and the really pleasing thing for me was the way in which we managed the physicality of the French and turned the game around.”
Tomorrow’s opponents snatched a 20-17 victory against Italy in Ystrad Mynach with a late penalty kick.
Three U18 Six Nations games will be played at the Arms Park on Matchday Two, with Italy v England (12:00) and France v Scotland (17:00) either side of Wales v Ireland. Tickets can be bought on the gate (£5 adults; U16s free).
Wales U18 team to face Ireland
15 Ioan Lloyd (Clifton College/Exiles)
14 Harri Doel (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets Academy/Scarlets)?
13 Joe Roberts (Coleg Sir Gar/Burry Port/Scarlets)
12 Osian Knott (Coleg Sir Gar/Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
11 Louis Rees-Zammit (Hartpury College/Gloucester Academy/Exiles)
10 Josh Thomas (Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr/Pontarddulais/Ospreys)
9 Ellis Bevan (Bryanston/Ampthill/Exiles)
1 Callum Williams (Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth/Tumble/Scarlets)
2 Cameron Lewis (Coleg Sir Gar/Swansea Uplands/Ospreys)
3 Archie Griffin (Marlborough College/Exiles)
4 Jac Price (Coleg Sir Gar/Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
5 Teddy Williams (Ysgol Gantaf/Cardiff Harlequins/Cardiff Blues)
6 Olly White (Llandovery College/Llandovery/RGC)
7 Jac Morgan (c) (Coleg Sir Gar/Carmarthen Athletic/Scarlets)
8 Ioan Rhys Davies (Coleg y Cymoedd/Merthyr/Cardiff Blues)
Replacements
16 Llew Phillips-Taylor (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets)
17 William Sanderson (Coleg Llandrillo/Wrexham/RGC)
18 Luke Yendle (Newport High/Senghenydd/Dragons)
19 Ben Carter (Newport High/Caldicot/Dragons)
20 Carwyn Tuipulotu (Sedbergh School/Exiles)
21 Robert Brookson (Coleg Gwent/Pontypool United/Dragons)
22 Frankie Jones (Neath-Port Talbot College/Cwmafan/Ospreys)
23 Dafydd Buckland (Newport High/Rhymney/Dragons)
24 Sam Costelow (Oakham School/Leicester Tigers/Exiles)
25 Aneurin Owen (Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw/NHSOB/Dragons)
