O’mahony leads new-look side

Ireland have made 11 changes to their starting line-up for the match with Wales in Cardiff tomorrow, including bringing Tadhg Beirne in at six and moving Peter O’mahony over to the openside flank.

Following a dismal showing at Twickenham last Saturday, when his team were hammered 57-15, head coach Joe Schmidt has rung the changes as he looks to get Ireland’s World Cup preparations back on track.

Beirne’s selection is particularly intriguing, with the Munsterman seen as a player capable of making a positive impact on a team who have lost their way.

Ireland’s breakdown will be watched with interest. While England operated with two out-and-out opensides last weekend, Ireland are heading the other way with O’mahony, traditionally a blindside flanker, moving to the open side.

Niall Scannell starts at hooker, with Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan completing the front row. In the second row, James Ryan and Iain Henderson are paired together. There is no replacement fly-half on the bench, meaning either Will Addison or Garry Ringrose are likely to cover.

Schmidt warned his team that they could not afford to think beyond the game tomorrow. “I’ve seen a lift [in training],” he added. “We’re in a better place to play rugby this week, but the confirmation of that will only come at the final whistle”.

Ireland (v Wales) W Addison (Ulster); A Conway, C Farrell (both Munster), B Aki (Connacht), J Stockdale (Ulster); J Carty, K Marmion (both Connacht); D Kilcoyne, N Scannell, John Ryan (all Munster), I Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne, P O’mahony (capt, both Munster), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements R Best (Ulster), A Porter, T Furlong, D Toner (all Leinster), J Murphy (Ulster), L Mcgrath, G Ringrose, D Kearney (all Leinster).