Sports
Ireland make fives changes for Wales clash as Nick Timoney handed first Six Nations start
Ireland back-rower Nick Timoney will make his first Guinness Six Nations start as part of five personnel changes for Friday evening’s round-four clash with Wales in Dublin.
The 30-year-old Ulster player replaces Josh van der Flier at openside flanker following impressive cameos in the opening defeat to France and subsequent victories over Italy and England.
Jack Conan, who was a late withdrawal from the bench ahead of the 42-21 bonus-point win at Twickenham on 21 February due to illness, is recalled at blindside flanker, while loosehead prop Tom O’Toole and hooker Ronan Kelleher also come into the forward pack.
Jacob Stockdale replaces the injured James Lowe on the left wing in the only alteration to the backline.
Jamison Gibson-Park will win his 50th Ireland cap following his man-of-the-match display against England, while Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak, 24, is set to make his international debut from the bench.
Sam Prendergast has been left out of the matchday 23 for the second successive game, with Jack Crowley retained at fly-half and Ciaran Frawley again providing back-up.
Centre Bundee Aki is also absent, despite returning to camp after competing the four-match ban which ruled him out of the start of the championship.
Lock Joe McCarthy and Van der Flier drop to the bench, while hooker Dan Sheehan has been given the evening off and prop Jeremy Loughman is unavailable because of a calf injury.
Ireland, who host Scotland on the final weekend, are chasing the Triple Crown to keep alive hopes of overhauling France in the battle for the title.
O’Toole and Kelleher will pack down alongside tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong in the front row.
Tadhg Beirne switches from blindside flanker to partner James Ryan in the second row, while captain Caelan Doris continues at number eight, between Conan and Timoney.
Centres Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose, right wing Robert Baloucoune and full-back Jamie Osborne are also retained.
Ulster hooker Tom Stewart and Munster centre Tom Farrell are in line for Six Nations debuts from a bench which also includes props Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.
Head coach Andy Farrell said: “We have two special milestones in the squad this week at opposite ends of the scrum-half spectrum.
“I would firstly like to congratulate Nathan on his first international selection. Nathan has been around a few Ireland camps in recent years and has impressed with the consistency and quality of his play in training and with Ulster over a longer period.
“I know how much this means to Nathan and we are determined to make this a special few days for him and his family.
“Also, Jamison becomes the 61st Irish international to reach the 50-cap mark which is an incredible achievement for a top-class professional.”
Ireland team to face Wales on Friday 6 March:
Starting XV: 1 Tom O’Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Jack Conan, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Jack Crowley; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 15 Jamie Osbourne.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Tom Farrell, 23 Ciaran Frawley.