SIX NATIONS 2014: Warburton Set To Lead Wales Against Ireland

Sam Warburton will lead Wales against Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations match in Dublin. The Cardiff Blues flanker is named at open-side, with Ospreys' Justin Tipuric dropping to the bench. Prop Gethin Jenkins takes over at loose-head, with Andrew Coombs replacing Luke Charteris at lock as Warren Gatland makes three changes.

Warburton takes over the captaincy from second row Alun Wyn Jones, who led the team in their 23-15 win over Italy. Bath prop Paul James drops to the bench, but there is no place in the match-day 23 for centre Jonathan Davies, who made his comeback for the Scarlets on Saturday after two months out through injury
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Perpignan second row Charteris has a hamstring injury.

Warburton came on as a second-half replacement against Italy - his first appearance since injuring a shoulder against Australia in December.

Scarlets lock Jake Ball, 22, could be in line to win his first cap from the bench having been called into the squad in place of the suspended Ian Evans.

Australian-born Ball qualifies for Wales thanks to his father, who is from Colwyn Bay.

Coach Warren Gatland is happy to have experience to add to the team against Ireland, who started their campaign with an impressive 28-6 victory over Scotland.

"[We are] losing Luke [Charteris], and his physicality at the breakdown, but Sam is one of the best at stealing and pinching ball at the breakdown," he said.

"We are lucky to have two excellent sevens but Sam gives us some physicality."

Davies is likely to be given another run-out for the Scarlets against Treviso this weekend, having played just 40 minutes in the past two and a half months.

"Jonathan isn't quite right, he is training with us and will have another game next week," added Gatland.

WALES (v Ireland) : Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton Saints), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (capt - Cardiff Blues), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).