Priestland and Roberts fit to face Irish centres

Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts started Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Aviva Stadium despite concerns over their fitness.

Priestland and Roberts, two stars of the World Cup, were troubled by knee problems but were given the green light to play on Friday.

Sam Warburton led the side but Wales, second favourites to win the Six Nations, were missing Dan Lydiate, Gethin Jenkins, Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones to injury.

Ireland chose Fergus McFadden to replace Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre after Keith Earls was withdrawn from the match on Friday due to personal reasons.

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton was preferred ahead of Ronan O’Gara as the Irish sought to avenge their World Cup quarter-final defeat by Wales.

Teams for Ireland versus Wales, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, 3pm.

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), F McFadden (Leinster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), P O’Connell (Munster, capt), S Ferris (Ulster), S O’Brien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), P O’Mahony (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O’Gara (Munster), D Kearney (Leinster).

Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); R Gill (Saracens), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A Powell (Sale Sharks), J Tipuric (Ospreys), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).

Assistant referees: Dave Pearson and Stuart Terheege (both England).