Wales team to face Ireland in Six Nations

Warren Gatland at Wales press conference

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes to the starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

Fly-half Dan Biggar, who missed the opening Six Nations games against Scotland and England due to a shoulder injury, replaces Rhys Patchell in the number 10 shirt.

Elsewhere, full-back Leigh Halfpenny has recovered from a foot infection that ruled him out of Wales' 12-6 defeat to England 10 days ago and replaces Gareth Anscombe, while fit-again Saracens wing Liam Williams takes over from Josh Adams.

Both Patchell and Adams drop out of the matchday 23, while Northampton wing George North is retained on the bench with Gatland opting for a back-three of Halfpenny, Williams and Steff Evans.

Biggar features for the first time since he was hurt during the Ospreys' European Champions Cup defeat against Clermont Auvergne last month, while Williams suffered an abdominal injury during the autumn campaign and has not played for Wales since they beat Georgia in November.

An unchanged pack is named, including number eight Ross Moriarty, who missed Gloucester's Aviva Premiership game against Worcester last weekend after suffering a shoulder knock.

Gatland, who takes charge of Wales for his 100th Test this week, said: "It is great to be able to bring so much experience back into the starting XV and into the back-line."

Wales team to play Ireland

FORWARDS: 1 Rob Evans (Scarlets), 2 Ken Owens (Scarlets), 3 Samson Lee (Scarlets), 4 Cory Hill (Dragons), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (CAPTAIN, Ospreys), 6 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), 7 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), 8 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester)

BACKS: 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys), 11 Steff Evans (Scarlets), 12 Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), 13 Scott Williams (Scarlets), 14 Liam Williams (Saracens), 15 Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets)

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17 Wyn Jones (Scarlets), 18 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 19 Bradley Davies (Ospreys), 20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 21 Aled Davies (Scarlets), 22 Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), 23 George North (Northampton Saints)

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