Scarlets’ back-three flyer Ellis Mee has been recalled to the Wales side for Friday night’s Guinness Six Nations round four match in Dublin (20:10 ITV & S4C).
The 22-year-old started both the opening matches against England and France, but made way for Leicester’s Gabriel Hamer-Webb against Scotland.
Mee, who had been in outstanding form for the Scarlets before the Championship, is back in the No.14 jersey for the clash at the Aviva Stadium in a Wales side showing three personnel changes from that agonising late loss to the Scots.
The other two changes are enforced with Scarlets Sam Costelow (ankle) and Taine Plumtree (shoulder) ruled out by injury. At fly-half, Dan Edwards returns to the No. 10 jersey, while James Botham gets the nod in the back row, coming in at openside with Cardiff team-mate Alex Mann reverting to blindside flanker.
Mee is one of four Scarlets in the match-day 23.
Eddie James, who has enjoyed an impressive tournament so far, again partners Joe Hawkins in midfield, while Ryan Elias is named among the replacements.
Also on the bench, Bath’s Louie Hennessey is in line to make his senior international debut, while Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell join the forward cover for this match.
Head coach Steve Tandy said: “There are a couple of enforced changes this week due to injury and then Ellis had played well in the opening couple of rounds, so we feel he deserves the opportunity again.
“This week it’s about backing up the performance against Scotland. Going away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game.
“I thought the defence against Scotland was much improved so we definitely want to double down on that going to Ireland. You see how they keep the ball in possession, they play lots of passes so we know we’re going to have to build and improve from the other week.”
Wales team v Ireland
15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears) 14 Ellis Mee (Scarlets), 13 Eddie James (Scarlets), 12 Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby); 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby); 1 Rhys Carre (Saracens), 2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), 3 Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby), 4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), 5. Ben Carter (Dragons), 6 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), 7 James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), 8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets), 17 Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), 19 Adam Beard (Montpellier), 20 Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers), 21 Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), 22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), 23 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby).