Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby says the time feels right for Dan Sheehan to captain the team for the first time.
Sheehan will skipper his country against Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday, after being named to start in Cardiff.
There are seven changes in all for the win against Scotland last time out, with Sheehan in for Ronan Kelleher in the number two shirt.
Thomas Clarkson gets his maiden start for Ireland at tighthead prop, with Joe McCarthy replacing James Ryan in the second-row.
With regular skipper Calean Doris ruled out with a knee injury, there’s a start in the back-row for Jack Conan.
Garry Ringrose’s inclusion at outside centre sees Robbie Henshaw switch to 12, the fit again Mack Hansen comes in on the right wing while Jamie Osborne starts at full-back.
Jack Boyle will earn his first cap if he comes off the bench.
Ireland (v Wales):
15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(5)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(26)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(65)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(79)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(38)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(5)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(40)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(72)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(captain)(29)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(4)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(16)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(58)
6. Peter O�Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(111)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(70)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(48)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(2)
17. Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)*
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(48)
19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(69)
20. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(122)
22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(21)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(62)
