Leigh Halfpenny
Six Nations: WALES v IRELAND
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: Sat, 12 March Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales, BBC One HD and online from 1635-1900; Listen on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Radio 5 Live; Text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
Wales have brought Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies into their back line for the visit of Ireland to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (5.00pm) and said ‘same again’ to the pack which sealed a RBS 6 Nations Championship victory over Italy last time out.
Ospreys playmaker James Hook returns to fly half, after starting there in the Round 2 victory over Scotland, but switching to centre to face the Azzurri.
Davies returns from hamstring trouble to reform his midfield partnership with Blues centre Jamie Roberts, who switches to outside centre.
Halfpenny replaces Scarlets wing Morgan Stoddart, who drops to the bench, and the last of four changes, two positional.
On the bench Sale Sharks scrum half Dwayne Peel joins Scarlets pair Stoddart and Stephen Jones in providing cover for the backs.
Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard and Blues prop John Yapp cover the front row with two from Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andy Powell (London Wasps) and Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys) to be confirmed after injury assessment on Thursday.
“This is a crucial game for us as a win will keep us in the Championship mix and take us into that final round with everything still to play for,”said head coach Warren Gatland.
“But it is also a big game for Ireland who are in a similar position to us going into this match.”
Ospreys scrum half Mike Phillips and his regional team-mate Ryan Jones will both win their 50thcaps. Jones takes his place at No8 in an unchanged back row with the coaches keeping faith with the entire pack for the third fixture in a row.
“The forwards had a tough day at the office in Italy and we were not at our very best so we are looking for a step up in performance this weekend,”said Wales assistant coach (forwards) Robin McBryde.
“Ireland will be tough, they have a well drilled set piece game, are good around the field and are strong defensively.
“They bring intensity to the breakdown area which is always so crucial in these big games and it will be up to us to match them if we are going to be able to provide a platform for our exciting backs to play.
“The debate at fly half will continue long after the Championship is over, but we have gone for James (Hook) on this occasion. James provides a running threat and we will be looking for him to show he can control the game as well and help us play in the right areas.
“Leigh (Halfpenny) had a good run out for the Blues at the weekend, we know all about his pace and what he offers around the field as well as being solid under the high ball and giving us a long range kicking option. Morgan (Stoddart) misses out, but he has done nothing wrong and we know he can be relied on if we need him from the bench.
“We also have a vast amount of experience in Stephen (Jones) and Dwayne (Peel) to call upon if necessary. Both have proved in the past that they can come on and make an impact and neither will let us down.”
WALES:Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees (captain), Craig Mitchell, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones
REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, (2 from: Rob McCusker, Andy Powell, Jonathan Thomas), Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Morgan Stoddart