Leigh Halfpenny has been handed his first Wales start in 19 months as Warren Gatland named his team to Ireland in this weekend's Six Nations opener.
Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins is also chosen in the backline, keeping his place in the side after winning his first cap against Australia in the autumn. There is no place for Nick Tompkins in the matchday 23.
Six Ospreys stars feature in the pack, with captain Ken Owens and Taulupe Faletau the only ones not plying their rugby in Swansea.
Halfpenny, who made his Test return after a lengthy injury lay-off last autumn with a cameo against Georgia, last started for Wales against Canada in July 2021 - in what was his 100th Test cap. His last Six Nations appearance came earlier that year, when he started the second of Wales' Six Nations fixtures against Scotland at Murrayfield.
He starts in the back-three alongside Josh Adams and Rio Dyer, who is favoured to Alex Cuthbert.
Dan Biggar returns after missing the autumn through injury to partner Tomos Williams at half-back. On the bench, Scott Baldwin and Owen Williams are in line for their first caps since 2017, while Exeter's Dafydd Jenkins is also named as a replacement.
“There’s a mixture in the team of some experience, some younger players. We were conscious as well picking the bench. We think we’ve got a bench that can come on and have an impact," said Gatland.
Of Hawkins' selection, he said: "He’s a lovely footballer with some great skills. I thought for his first cap he was outstanding so we’ve given him another opportunity. There’s some real competition in the midfield at the moment, so I’m really excited about that.
“Ireland are the number one team in the world, so they’re going to be coming here with a lot of confidence. You don’t become the number one team in the world without having some pretty consistent performances. We know how good they are and we’re expecting a really tough contest. It’s important for us that we start well, but we need to be in the game at the last 20 minutes.
“We’ve only had a couple of weeks together but I’m confident that the guys will go out and give a good account of themselves. They’re pretty excited about playing this first game at home.”
Ireland head to Cardiff in search of their first Six Nations victory in the Welsh capital in 10 years, having last won in 2013.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, George North, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens (c), Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Rhys Webb, Owen Williams, Alex Cuthbert.
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