Including a couple of late alterations, head coach Andy Farrell has made eight personnel changes and three positional switches to the team that lost 35-27 to France in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations.
Leinster winger James Lowe comes in for his Ireland debut in an exciting back-three that also features Hugo Keenan, who shifts to full-back for late withdrawal Jacob Stockdale (calf). Andrew Conway returns on the right wing.
Robbie Henshaw switches to inside centre to accommodate Chris Farrell’s inclusion, while recent debutant Jamison Gibson-Park makes his first start at half-back alongside captain Jonathan Sexton.
This will the Ireland skipper’s 100th international game. In addition to his six British & Irish Lions caps, Sexton has played 93 times so far for his country.
There is a maiden start for 22-year-old hooker Ronan Kelleher in an all-Leinster front row, with centurion Cian Healy and Andrew Porter either side of him.
Following his recent suspension, Ulster’s Iain Henderson was due to return to Test action. However, a medical issue has forced him out of the side, meaning Connacht lock Quinn Roux will partner James Ryan in the engine room.
Josh van der Flier, one of the try scorers during February’s 24-14 win over Wales, and Peter O’Mahony will fill the flanker roles, while Caelan Doris switches to number 8.
Ulster out-half Billy Burns is poised to make his Ireland bow off the bench, with Conor Murray and the fit-again Keith Earls the other replacement backs.
Connacht front rowers Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham join Ed Byrne, Tadhg Beirne and Will Connors as the reserve forwards.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s Celtic derby which will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 and Channel 4, Farrell said: “It’s a good side and one I’m excited about, that’s for sure.
“Some people were waiting for their chance to show what they are about and others have got another chance so it is a good blend and one that can put in a performance.
James brings an extra dimension to how we want to play. We have all seen him play PRO14 and Champions Cup and what it means for Leinster so hopefully he can bring the same.
“Hopefully on top of that he brings extra competition for places in our squad which is very important for us going forward.
“Jamison gets an opportunity to see how he can handle a full game. He’s been coming off the bench and doing pretty well. In training he has been with us for three weeks now and we have been very impressed with what we have seen so far.
“Managing a game throughout and not in training is something we are curious about. We are excited to see how we play. He’s a little bit different to some of the other scrum halves, so that’s a good one.”
He added: “Caelan has grown up being a number 8 and if you’d asked him which was his favourite position I’m not sure which answer he would give you – I suppose he would play anywhere for Ireland but it’s a position in which we have seen him excel before.
“It’s a position we have seen CJ Stander dominate in and play unbelievably well for us in the past and certainly will do again in the future, but Caelan gets the chance this weekend.”
Meanwhile, for Wales, prop Tomas Francis will win his 50th cap in Dublin and captain Alun Wyn Jones takes his new world record haul of Test appearances to 150.
Francis, a recent Heineken Champions Cup winner with Exeter Chiefs, combines with Rhys Carre and Ryan Elias in the front row, and Will Rowlands and Jones complete the tight five.
In the only change from the 14-10 defeat to Scotland, Justin Tipuric returns to the back row after recovering from tonsillitis. He links up with the newly-capped Shane Lewis-Hughes and Taulupe Faletau.
Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies lead a familiar-looking back-line, which has Jonathan Davies and Owen Watkin paired together in the centre, and Leigh Halfpenny has fellow Scarlet Liam Williams and Josh Adams for company in the back-three.
Welsh head coach Wayne Pivac commented: “Friday night is the start of a new international season and a new campaign and we are looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do.
“We have got four matches in the Autumn Nations Cup to perform and we are excited to be kicking the tournament off.”
Uncapped out-half Callum Sheedy, a former Ireland Under-18 Sevens international, is set to make his Wales debut off the bench. If George North comes on, he will match Sexton in making his 100th international appearance.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ed Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Will Connors (UCD/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Billy Burns (UIster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster).
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Liam Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Will Rowlands (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (capt), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath).
Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Callum Sheedy (Bristol), George North (Ospreys).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzere, Alexandre Ruiz (both France)
Television Match Official: Romain Poite (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: Peter O’Mahony (Ireland) –
The Welsh are a tight-knit group. They’re big game players, incredible rugby players and when they put on the Welsh jersey it seems to bring them alive. When we play against each other it’s always an incredible Test match.
“There’s an incredible rivalry obviously there for a long time and I wouldn’t be expecting any different on Friday night.
“Set piece is paramount really for any rugby game. Particularly against a team like Wales, who won’t give us a huge amount of set piece. Opportunities will be few and far between, you’d imagine.
“You have to be accurate and it’s always top of our tree, every Test match we go into. Set piece accuracy is very much up there and that certainly won’t change for this game.”
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) –
We’re very clear about the things we need to shore up from the Scotland game to get a result. The margins in the games at this level are small.
“There were times in the Scottish game where we probably tried too hard and gave away penalties. Sometimes it’s easier to take a little two percent off the effort than add it in.
“It’s probably about being a bit smarter. We’ve got a little bit to get right, but we know what we need to do.
“This is a new competition. In a way it’s a new start, but we’re definitely aware of what we need to shore up and I’d like to think there would be a reaction.”
Pre-Match Links –
Read The Free Digital Match Programme
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run At Aviva Stadium
Farrell Ready To Hit The Ground Running With Henshaw
Henderson: Everyone Is Buzzing To Play
Recent Meetings –
2018: NatWest 6 Nations: Ireland 37 Wales 27, Aviva Stadium
2019: Guinness Six Nations: Wales 25 Ireland 7, Principality Stadium; Rugby World Cup Warm-Up: Wales 17 Ireland 22, Principality Stadium; Guinness Summer Series: Ireland 19 Wales 10, Aviva Stadium
2020: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 24 Wales 14, Aviva Stadium
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