SOUTH-African born CJ Stander will make his Ireland debut on Sunday after he was named at blindside for Sunday’s Six Nations opener with Wales.
Injury to Sean O’Brien during the week paved the way for the Munster man to step in as the only debutant in Joe Schmidt’s starting side.
Neither Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey or Leinster’s Josh van der Flier are included in the 23, with Schmidt instead opting for the tried and tested.
Injury to Rob Kearney might have paved the way for McCloskey’s introduction, given Jared Payne’s ability to play at full-back, but Schmidt has instead opted for Simon Zebo at 15.
That means Payne will resume his midfield partnership with Robbie Henshaw, while Ulster’s Andrew Trimble is named on the right wing and Keith Earls is on the left.
Jonathan Sexton, whose place had been in doubt after he suffered another knock to the head in Leinster’s European Champions Cup defeat by Wasps last month, is named to start alongside Conor Murray.
Up front, O’Brien’s injury means that Stander and Tommy O’Donnell will flank Jamie Heaslip in the back row.
Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy will pair up in the second row, while new skipper Rory Best will be joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Nathan White.
Kieran Marmion has got the nod ahead of Eoin Reddan as cover for Conor Murray, but there are no other surprises in the replacements.
Wales named their team on Wednesday, with winger Tom James set to make his first start in five years for what promises to be a bruising encounter in the Aviva.
Ireland: Simon Zebo; Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Nathan White; Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner; CJ Stander, Tommy O’Donnell, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Sean Cronin, James Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion, Ian Madigan, Dave Kearney
Wales: Gareth Anscombe; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee; Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones; Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau
Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert
