Louis Rees-Zammit will make his Guinness Six Nations debut on Sunday after Wayne Pivac named the 20-year-old in his starting team to play Ireland.
The lightning quick winger will start on the right and is part of a back three that also includes full-back Leigh Halfpenny and left winger Hallam Amos.
Rees-Zammit was part of Wales’ 2020 Championship squad but didn’t feature until the autumn, where he played four times and scored one try.
George North wins his 99th Wales cap at outside centre, a position he has steadily adjusted to in the last 12 months, while flanker Dan Lydiate makes his first international start since November 2018.
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The all-action blindside flanker is picked ahead of Josh Navidi and partners Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau in the back row.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones is fit enough to start at lock after recovering from an injury and he partners Adam Beard, while Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis form the front row.
Tomos Williams wins his first cap since last year’s Championship following injury, Dan Biggar is in at fly-half and Johnny Williams will partner North in the centres.
“We are looking forward to kicking off our campaign this weekend and putting into action two really good training weeks,” said Wales head coach Wayne Pivac.
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“We made strides forward through the autumn and we are looking to take that into Sunday and into this tournament.
“The Six Nations is a fantastic tournament and is important for us rugby wise but it is important for so much more this year.
“It is important for communities across the country and we want to play our part and give everyone something to look forward to and to get excited about on the weekend.”
WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND (SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7 KO 15:00)
1. Wyn Jones (30 Caps) 2. Ken Owens (77 Caps) 3. Tomas Francis (52 Caps) 4. Adam Beard (21 Caps) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT) (143 Caps) 6. Dan Lydiate (64 Caps) 7. Justin Tipuric (80 Caps) 8. Taulupe Faletau (81 Caps) 9. Tomos Williams (20 Caps) 10. Dan Biggar (87 Caps) 11. Hallam Amos (22 Caps) 12. Johnny Williams (2 Caps) 13. George North (98 Caps) 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (4 Caps) 15. Leigh Halfpenny (93 Caps)
Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee (33 Caps) 17. Rhodri Jones (17 Caps) 18. Leon Brown (12 Caps) 19. Will Rowlands (5 Caps) 20. Josh Navidi (24 Caps) 21. Gareth Davies (57 Caps) 22. Callum Sheedy (4 Caps) 23. Nick Tompkins (8 Caps)
