Wales will welcome back the British & Irish Lions trio of Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny for their Six Nations trip to Dublin this weekend.
Biggar returns from a shoulder injury after missing the first two rounds while Halfpenny (foot) and Williams (abdominal) will join Steff Evans in the back-three with Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams continuing their partnership in the midfield.
TEAM NEWS 🏴 Wales welcome back @lionsofficial trio Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams for #IREvWAL. Croeso nol i Lewod Halfpenny, Williams a Biggar i wynebu Iwerddon dydd Sadwrn. pic.twitter.com/MDgRyrrmGM
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 20, 2018
💯 Leading into his 100th game in charge of Wales, head coach Warren Gatland discusses his selections for #IREvWAL this Saturday in Dublin. pic.twitter.com/7IJHvGPXd1
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 20, 2018
Halfpenny missed the loss to England earlier this month after pulling out with a foot infection while Williams and George North, who makes the bench, were not considered match fit for England but have each played two games for their respective club sides.
Head coach Warren Gatland has retained the all-Scarlets front-row of Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Samson Lee feature for a third consecutive game, while Cory Hill partners captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row, with Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi and Ross Moriarty comprising the back-row.
“It is great to be able to bring so much experience back into the starting XV and into the backline,” said Gatland, who will take charge of Wales for the 100th time.
“It is the first week we have had everyone in the ‘green’ in terms of availability which is a nice luxury to have and a positive ahead of what is a very important test match against a very good Ireland side.
“We have been pleased with the depth we have developed in the back-three and pleased with how those players have gone but having the experience of Dan, Liam and Leigh coming back in is hugely important.
“We have been pleased with how the forward pack has been going and how they have worked as a unit but as always there is pressure for them to perform too.”
Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis are named as the front-row replacements with Bradley Davies and Justin Tipuric completing the forward contingent. Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe and George North provide the back-line cover.
