Beirne to make Six Nations debut against Wales

Munster second row Tadhg Beirne is one of three changes that Joe Schmidt has made for Ireland’s Six Nations game with Wales on Saturday.

Beirne comes into the team for Ulster’s Iain Henderson, while there are also returns for Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney.

Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Keith Earls are the other Munster players in the starting 15.

Niall Scannell and Dave Kilcoyne have been named among the replacements.

Ireland still have an outside chance of winning this year’s championship, but would need to beat Wales and hope that Scotland pull off a shock against England.

The game with Wales in Cardiff has a 2:45pm kick-off and is live on Virgin Media One.

Meanwhile, Wales have named an unchanged team for the game after Liam Williams was passed fit. The full back had been nursing a shoulder injury.