Francis to start against Ireland

By Mark Stevens
8/3/17

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis lines-up in an unchanged Welsh match-day squad to face Ireland at Principality Stadium on Friday (8:05pm).

The 24-year-old will pack down at tight-head alongside Rob Evans and Ken Owens as he wins his 21st international cap.

Joining him in the pack will be flanker Justin Tipuric, who will win his 50th cap. The Ospreys forward, who made his debut in Cardiff in 2011, will take to the field in his 25th RBS 6 Nations encounter and line up alongside Sam Warburton and Ross Moriarty in the back row.

"We felt it was important the same group of players had the opportunity to go out and perform on Friday so we have named an unchanged match-day squad," said Wales head coach Rob Howley.

"Friday night is an opportunity for us. There is a lot of experience in our group and you don't become a bad team overnight. We want to show what we can do and that experience will be very important this week.

"We know we need to be more clinical and we need to execute better under pressure and we have been working hard on that during the last few weeks.

"Ireland are one of the in-form sides in world rugby and are coached very well and packed with experience and there are a number of interesting match-up across both teams.

"We always say we are fortunate to have the best supporters in the world and we are eager to put in a performance for them under the lights at Principality Stadium on Friday."

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND:

Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (69 Caps)
George North (Northampton Saints) (67 Caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (62 Caps)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (44 Caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets) (41 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (54 Caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (26 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (48 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (20 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (24 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt)(108 Caps)
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues) (72 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (49 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby) (15 Caps)

Replacements:
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) (31 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (10 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (32 Caps)
Luke Charteris (Bath) (72 Caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (64 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (23 Caps)
Sam Davies (Ospreys) (5 Caps)
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins) (89 Caps)