Waiting is over as Wood returns

Keith Wood will return to international rugby when he captains Ireland against Wales at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The Lions hooker has not represented his country since their 35-3 World Cup qualifying victory over Russia in Krasnoyarsk last September.

The 31-year-old former Harlequins forward spent most of last season battling a serious neck injury.

But he is now fully fit to make a first Lansdowne Road appearance in almost two years, and will win his 52nd cap.

Centre Brian O'Driscoll, who skippered Ireland during their 2003 RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign, wing Shane Horgan and number eight Anthony Foley are also back after missing Ireland's summer tour of Australia, Tonga and Samoa through injury.

Tighthead prop Simon Best, who made his Test debut as a replacement against Samoa in June, is handed a first start, teaming up alongside Wood and Reggie Corrigan in the front-row.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan still has injury problems though, with several players including fly-half Ronan O'Gara and prop John Hayes currently sidelined.

But Ireland should still encounter few problems against a young and inexperienced Wales side that includes two Test debutants full-back Nicky Robinson and flanker Rhys Oakley and four more rookies on the bench.

After Wales, Ireland continue their pre-World Cup schedule against Italy in Limerick on August 30, and Scotland at Murrayfield seven days later.