Wales Team to Face Ireland Announced

Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has named an experienced side to begin the defence of their RBS 6 Nations title, with 13 members of the 2012 Grand Slam winning squad starting the opening fixture against Ireland on Saturday.

A sold out Millennium Stadium will witness the first match of the 2013 tournament and the starting fifteen features one uncapped player, Dragons second-row Andrew Coombs. Coombs will partner Ospreys’ Ian Evans in the second-row who returns from injury to start the fixture.

The front-row sees the return of Adam Jones from injury and he links up with Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins to reunite the 2009 British & Irish Lions front row. In the backline Dan Biggar is the only change to the side that kicked off last season’s Six Nations with victory over Ireland in Dublin. The Ospreys fly-half will win his 12th cap at the Millennium Stadium.

“As a squad we have worked hard over the past two weeks and go into Saturday excited and confident at defending our title,” said Wales interim head coach Rob Howley.

“It’s a boost to have Adam and Ian return from injury and it’s a great opportunity for Andrew who has been performing well at regional level to show what he can do on this stage. The Six Nations is all about momentum and we know we have to hit the ground running against Ireland.”

On the bench, Craig Mitchell returns to the match day squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and he is joined by uncapped Harlequins second row Olly Kohn. Richard Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Eli Walker, Lou Reed and Liam Williams were unavailable for selection due to injury.

SQUAD

Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North,

Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones,

Andrew Coombs, Ian Evans, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau

REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Paul James, Craig Mitchell, Olly Kohn,

Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams.