‘He’s some athlete’ – Timoney starts as Ireland make five changes for Wales

Nick Timoney has been handed his first Six Nations start as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell makes five changes to his XV for Friday’s match against Wales in Dublin (20:10 GMT).

The Ulster back row has been rewarded by Farrell after making an impact off the bench in the games against France, Italy and England.

Timoney, 30, is one of two changes to the back row as Jack Conan is recalled after he missed the emphatic win over England at Allianz Stadium because of illness, meaning Tadhg Beirne shifts to the second row.

“We have always seen what he can do,” Farrell said when asked about Timoney.

“He’s some athlete. He’s quick, strong, good over the ball and he has a good eye for a line break. It was the consistency in his performance [that we wanted to see], and his contact work has come on massively.

“This isn’t just giving him a chance, he’s earned the right to start and everyone knows that.”

Farrell has also made two changes to the front row with Ulster’s Tom O’Toole replacing the injured Jeremy Loughman at loose-head prop and Ronan Kelleher recalled at hooker.

In the only change to the backline, Jacob Stockdale replaces the injured James Lowe on the left wing.

Stockdale started Ireland’s defeat by France in Paris at full-back, but despite Tommy O’Brien’s excellent performance off the bench against England, Farrell has given the 2018 player of the tournament another chance to nail down a starting berth.

“He [Stockdale]’s been waiting in the wings for another opportunity to have a crack at it,” said Farrell.

With right winger Robert Baloucoune and inside centre Stuart McCloskey retained after their sparkling displays against England, there are five Ulster players in Farrell’s starting team and two – Tom Stewart and Nathan Doak – on the bench.

In contrast, there were no Ulster players in Ireland’s matchday squad for the 27-18 win over Wales in Cardiff last year.

“It’s brilliant, isn’t it? They are in the side because of the form they have been showing for their province,” added Farrell.

“There is confidence within the group to warrant a starting place or a debut or whatever, and shows that they are keen to grow at this level as well. We have seen this over the past number of weeks.”

Doak is set to win his first cap as scrum-half cover for Jamison Gibson-Park – who will make his 50th Ireland appearance – while hooker Stewart will make his Six Nations debut.

“Nathan has been around a few Ireland camps in recent years and has impressed with the consistency and quality of his play in training and with Ulster over a longer period.

Munster centre Tom Farrell is also set to make his Six Nations debut off the bench with Bundee Aki not included despite returning from a four-game ban for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards match officials in Connacht’s loss to Leinster in January.

Jack Crowley is retained at fly-half with Sam Prendergast again not included in the squad.

Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier drop to the bench while Dan Sheehan will have the weekend off.

Wales named their team earlier on Wednesday with wing Ellis Mee recalled as one of three changes made by head coach Steve Tandy.

Ireland have won the past four Six Nations meetings with Wales and have not lost to this fixture at home since 2012.

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; Crowley, Gibson-Park; O’Toole, Kelleher, Furlong, Ryan, Beirne, Conan, Timoney, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Stewart, Milne, Clarkson, McCarthy, Van der Flier, Doak, Farrell, Frawley.

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Francis, D Jenkins, Carter, Mann, Botham, Wainwright.