Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will make his 150th Test appearance when his team open their Autumn Nations Cup campaign against Ireland in Dublin on Friday.

Apart from Jones’ career milestone, prop Tomas Francis will also earn his 50th Test cap.

Francis packs down again alongside Rhys Carre and Ryan Elias in the front row, with Will Rowlands and Jones continuing their partnership in the second row.

Justin Tipuric returns to the starting lineup after recovering from tonsillitis and features alongside Shane Lewis-Hughes and Taulupe Faletau.

Wales have named an unchanged backline with Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar as halfbacks, with Owen Watkin and Jonathan Davies partnering in the midfield. Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny are named in the back three.

‘Friday night is the start of a new international season and a new campaign and we are looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do,’ Wales coach Wayne Pivac said.

‘We have got four matches in the Autumn Nations Cup to perform and we are excited to be kicking the tournament off.’

On the bench Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Samson Lee provide the front-row cover with Jake Ball and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. Uncapped flyhalf Callum Sheedy is named in the match-day squad for the first time.

Sheedy is joined on the bench by Lloyd Williams and George North, the latter in line for his 100th Test appearance if he takes the field.

Wales – 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Rhys Carre.
Subs: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 George North.

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