Keith Wood returns to captain Ireland

Keith Wood, who last played for Ireland against Russia last September, returns after injury to lead Ireland against Wales in the permanent tsb Test on Saturday.

The Clareman last played an international match at Lansdowne Road against New Zealand in November 2001.

The Ireland side also includes the return of Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Anthony Foley who did not take part in the Summer tour due to injury.

Tight head prop Simon Best who earned his first cap for Ireland as a replacement against Samoa in June is selected for his first full cap in a new look front row alongside Wood and Reggie Corrigan.

Ireland

15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester),

14 Shane Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne),

13 Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College),

12 Kevin Maggs (Bath),

11 Anthony Horgan (Munster/Cork Constitution),

10 David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon),

9 Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon),

1 Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones),

2 Keith Wood (captain),

3 Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins),

4 Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster/St Mary’s College),

5 Paul O’Connell (Munster/Young Munster),

6 Victor Costello (Leinster/St Mary’s College),

7 Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St Mary’s College),

8 Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon).

Replacements:

16 Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College),

17 Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres),

18 Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution),

19 David Wallace (Munster/Garryowen)

20 Guy Easterby (Rotherham),

21 Tyrone Howe (Ulster/Dungannon),

22 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College).

Not considered due to injury:

Paul Burke (Harlequins),

( Emmet Byrne (Leinster/St Mary’s College),

Neil Doak (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins),

John Hayes (Munster/Shannon),

Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon),

Ronan O’ Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution),

James Topping (Ulster/Ballymena).