Robbie returns as Ireland look to sign off with a win
Robbie Henshaw has returned to the Ireland rugby team's starting line-up for this Saturday's clash with Wales.
Both Henshaw and fellow Athlone native Jack Carty were named in the Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup in Japan earlier this week.
Henshaw has been selected at No. 13 and will be partnered in the centre by Bundee Aki.
Carty, who was chosen as man of the match in last Saturday's win over Wales in Cardiff, has been named on the bench for the rematch with Warren Gatland's side. Jonathan Sexton makes his seasonal debut at out-half in what will be Ireland's last warm-up match before the World Cup.
But Carty will be expected to see action from the bench and it will be interesting to see if he and Buccaneers colleague Henshaw are on the field together at any stage.
Ireland captain Rory Best will win his 120th cap against the Welsh in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2pm). The game also marks the final match for Joe Schmidt on Irish soil.
Best, who will retire after the Rugby World Cup, leads a much changed Ireland team from last weekend. Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong join the Ireland captain in the front row with James Ryan and Jean Kleyn (chosen ahead of Devin Toner in the World Cup squad) in the second row.
Jack Conan starts at No. 8 with CJ Stander coming into the back-row at 6 and Josh van der Flier named at 7. Keith Earls is also back in the Irish team on the left wing, with Jordan Larmour on the right and Rob Kearney at full-back.
Ireland team & replacements v Wales
(Guinness Series 2019, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, September 7, 2pm)
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 91 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 15 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 37 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 19 caps
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 77 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 83 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 73 caps
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 90 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 119 caps CAPTAIN
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 35 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps
5. Jean Kleyn (Munster) 2 caps
6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 32 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 15 caps
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 69 caps
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 30 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 17 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 47 caps
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 22
21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 13 caps
22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 23 caps