Scarlets fly half Priestland has recovered from a knee injury in time to take his place in a starting line-up which shows six changes to that which faced Australia at the Millennium Stadium in December and just five from that which defeated Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals six weeks earlier.

Wing sensation George North (who played in all 7 RWC matches last year) switches flanks to take the No11 jersey synonymous with Wales' top try scorer Shane Williams.

Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies is reunited with Jamie Roberts who has recovered Elsewhere in the starting XV Scarlet Jonathan Davies (7 RWC 2011 appearances) is reunited with Roberts.

Hooker Ken Owens, who made his first appearance against Namibia in the World Cup, joins Scarlets colleague Scott Williams on the bench for the opening clash of the 2012 Championship.

Scarlets captain Matthew Rees joins the injured with a calf injury. Other players injured areDan Lydiate (ankle) and Gethin Jenkins (knee).

Wales team to play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, KO3pm: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Michael Phillips, 1 Rhys Gill, 2 Huw Bennett, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Ian Evans, 6 Ryan Jones, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 8 Toby Faletau.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Andy Powell, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams