Jack Carty will make his first Test start after Joe Schmidt announced a much-changed Ireland team for their trip to Cardiff this weekend.
Fly-half Carty came off the bench for his international debut during this year’s Guinness Six Nations and produced an impressive cameo in the latter stages against Wales in the Principality Stadium.
And the Connacht No.10 will this week get the start and a chance to earn a spot on the plane to Japan in a half-back pairing with his provincial teammate Kieran Marmion.
“When (Carty) he came on in the Principality, he was self-assured, accurate, he did a fantastic grubber for Stockade, who almost scored and that built to the try we did get,” said Schmidt.
“He came off the bench and two of the tackles he made were oustanding, he got off the line and chopped the player.
“But he also has to bring other people into the game. So much of the game flows through the ten. It is a massive task for Jack but we are really looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Elsewhere Peter O’Mahony captains the side in the back row, switching to the openside to accommodate Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan.
James Ryan makes his return in the second row alongside Iain Henderson while it is an all-Munster front row of Niall Scannell, John Ryan and Dave Kilcoyne.
Chris Farrell and Bundee Aki team up in midfield while the back three is made up for Andrew Conway and Jacob Stockdale on the wings with Will Addison at full-back.
Addison will make his second start for Ireland in the No.15 jersey after last autumn.
“This is (Will’s) first runout for a long time, for Will it is a really important opportunity but he should hit the ground running,” Schmidt added.
“He has trained really well this week so we would be very hopeful he can slot in.
On the bench Rory Best, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner and Jordi Murphy cover the forwards.
And in the backs Luke McGrath, Garry Ringrose and Dave Kearney are named as Schmidt seeks a reponse from the heavy defeat to England last weekend.
Schmidt added: “I do believe we are in better place to actually play rugby.
“There will be evidence of that I believe, but confirmation does not come until the final whistle on Saturday and we see how the players have performed.”
Ireland team to face Wales this Saturday in Cardiff:
15. Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster) 3 caps 14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 14 caps 13. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 6 caps 12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 18 caps 11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 20 caps 10. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 5 caps 9. Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht) 26 caps
1. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 29 caps 2. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 15 caps 3. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19 caps 4. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 46 caps 5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 17 caps 6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 7 caps 7. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 58 caps 8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 14 caps
REPLACEMENTS 16. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 118 caps 17. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 16 caps 18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 34 caps 19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 66 caps 20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 28 caps 21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 12 caps 22. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 22 caps 23. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
