Scarlets winger Ellis Mee will make his international debut as new interim head coach Matt Sherratt also recalls Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn for Wales’s first home game of the 2025 Six Nations.

Sherratt has made eight changes from the second row defeat in Rome which saw the end of Warren Gatland’s second spell in charge.

As well as Mee, Anscombe and Llewellyn, Sherratt has completely changed the front row. Nicky Smith and Elliot Dee replace Gareth Thomas and Evan Lloyd, who both drop to the bench after starting the opening two games.

WillGriff John will add to his three caps, replacing Henry Thomas who also makes the bench.

Sherratt has also shuffled positions in the back row, with captain Jac Morgan shifting to blindside flanker, and Tommy Reffell coming in on the openside. Taulupe Faletau keeps his place ahead of Aaron Wainwright who is on the bench.

Experienced halfbacks, young outside backs

Tomos Williams keeps his place at scrumhalf, while Gareth Anscombe – initially left out of Gatland’s squad – will make his first start in the Six Nations since the final game of Wales’s Grand Slam winning campaign in 2019.

Anscombe scored 20 points that day in a virtuoso display against this Saturday’s opponents Ireland.

Outside Williams and Anscombe, Sherratt has selected a relatively inexperienced back line. With Josh Adams out with a hamstring complaint, Scarlets teammates Tom Rogers, Mee, and Blair Murray make up the back three.

In the centres, Sherratt has reunited former Cardiff teammates Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn – another initially left out of the squad by Gatland.

Ireland strong despite injuries

Despite Saturday’s visitors travelling to Cardiff without skipper Caelan Doris, Ronan Kelleher, and Tadhg Furlong, Simon Easterby has selected a strong team.

Ireland interim head coach Easterby has been heavily linked to the vacant Wales job, due in part to his success as part of the Ireland set up for a number of years, and also because of his family ties to the nation.

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan captains the side in Doris’ absence, with Gus McCarthy set to make his Six Nations debut off the bench.

Jamie Osborne gets the nod at fullback ahead of Hugo Keenan, while club teammates Gary Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw line up in the centres, with Bundee Aki dropping to the bench.

Teams

Wales

Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan (capt), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements

Evan Lloyd, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans, Joe Roberts.

Ireland

Jamie Osborne; Mack Hansen, Gary Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tom Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony, Josh Van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements

Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki.

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