Joe Schmidt Says Wales Kick A Lot, So We Have Tommy Bowe In Reserve

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt expects Wales to kick the ball rather than keep it hand when the two teams meet on Friday night.

Schmidt has made only one change to his squad of 23 after victory over France, with Tommy Bowe replacing Andrew Trimble on the bench.

Former Ospreys and Lions star Bowe comes in after Trimble was ruled out with fractured bone in his hand, but Schmidt revealed Bowe had got the nod over rivals because of his suitability and experience for this particular Six Nations fixture.

Schmidt said: “In the context of what we feel Wales will bring, Tommy is so strong in the air.

“His experience as well, having played with a lot of these players in his time with the Ospreys, we just felt it was a good decision in this context.

Garry Ringrose has kept his place at outside centre for the clash in Cardiff. Jared Payne has failed to shake off heavy bruising from last Friday’s Ulster win over Treviso, leaving Leinster’s Ringrose to retain the 13 shirt for the crucial encounter.

Payne has made an unlikely return to Ireland’s squad for the final two Six Nations rounds, after suffering a nasty kidney injury in November.

Ireland could have benefited from the 31-year-old’s defensive leadership against Wales’ powerful backline, but the New Zealand-born centre was not quite ready for action.

Vice captain Jamie Heaslip will win his 95th Ireland cap this weekend, and his 100th Test bow in all when including his five for the British and Irish Lions.

“When we won the Championship in 2014 and 2015 we actually had minimal changes week to week and we grew as the tournament went on,” added Schmidt.

“Everyone through the Championship picks up some more rhythm. It’s a challenge for both sides and an opportunity for both sides to have those unchanged starting XVs and the full 23 for Wales.”

Schmidt will have three Lions in his pack, with skipper Rory Best joined by back-row duo Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip.

Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton, who both went to Australia with the Lions in 2013, will continue in the half-backs, while it’s also an all-Lions back three with Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Rob Kearney.

Ireland team to face Wales on Friday night:

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 75 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 57 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 27 caps

11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 31 caps
    10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 64 caps
    9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 56 caps

    1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s/Leinster) 39 caps
    2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 102 caps (captain)
    3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 14 caps
    4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 45 caps
    5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 45 caps
    6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 13 caps
    7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) 47 caps
    8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 94 caps

    Replacements
    16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 2 cap
    17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 65 caps
    18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 4 cap
    19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 30 caps
    20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 38 caps
    21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 10 caps
    22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 22 caps
    23. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 68 caps