Ireland, to put pressure on France before the ‘Cinderella’ of the Six Nations

Irish coach Andy Farrell once again reorganized his team to this Friday’s Six Nations match at home against Walesmaking four changes between the forwards and one between the defenders, with the aim of continuing to improve after the great 42-21 victory over England in their last game.

Ireland still have a slim chance of winning the title if defending champions France suffer a major setback.but above all she is eager to validate her performance at Twickenham in her last two games, after a hesitant start in the championship.

Farrell has rotated his squad throughout the campaign due to the more condensed fixture schedule, and the changes against bottom-of-the-table Wales mark flanker Nick Timoney’s first Six Nations start after three eye-catching substitute appearances.

Timoney’s Ulster team-mate Tom O’Toole replaces the injured Jeremy Loughman in a largely revamped front row, where he will start alongside Ronan Kelleher. Starting hooker Dan Sheehan is fully rested, and Tom Stewart will make his Six Nations debut off the bench.

Jack Conan returns to the third line for his second start of the campaign, while Tadhg Beirne moves to the second line. Josh van der Flier and Joe McCarthy, who returned to their best against England, are among the substitutes.

With flanker James Lowe out for the remainder of the tournament, Jacob Stockdale is included in an otherwise unchanged three-quarter line, where man of the match against England, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, will earn his 50th cap for Ireland.

Gibson-Park’s substitute for the day, Nathan Doak, is set to make his international debut off the bench and is one of seven Ulster players in the 23-man squad for the match, shortly after the resurgent province struggled to advance in the national team.