Dan Shihan will present Ireland against Wales in the six Saturday match in Cardiff.
HOOKER will lead the team for the first time as the regular captain is excluded due to a knee injury.
Shehan, 26, came out of the bench in Ireland's victory over England and Scotland, but replaces the injured Ronan Keeler in a team that shows seven changes from the victory in Morafield.
Besides Xihan in the front row, there is a pillar of Thomas Clarkson, who will be headed by Linnester, who will start his first start after obtaining his first appearance in November, while the pillar Jack Boyle was appointed for the first time in the test against the seat.
Jacques Conan replaces Doris in eighth, while Joe McCarthy returns to the second row after recovering from the head injury that excluded him from the first two games.
In the back line, Mack Hansen returns to the pavilion after losing Scotland while Garry Ringrose was named to start alongside Robbie Henshaw in the midfield, with Bundee AKI fell to the bench.
Jimmy Osborne will run for the first time in the first six countries in the back, to replace Hugo Keenan, while keeping Sam Burnderads in half after appearing in his first appearance against Scotland.
Gus McCarthy and Cian Prendergast – Sime's brother – are also scheduled to take the first appearance of their six countries from the bench.
