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O'Connell back to lead Ireland

London - Ireland captain Paul O'Connell was passed fit on Thursday to lead the team against Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday following his dramatic withdrawal last weekend.

The veteran lock pulled out of last week's 28-6 win at home to Scotland just hours before kick-off with a chest infection.

But he been given the all clear for the Lansdowne Road visit of defending champions Wales, beaten 30-22 by the Irish in last season's corresponding clash.

Dan Tuohy, O'Connell's stand-in against the Scots, resumes his place on the bench, with the only change to the starting side seeing the fit-again Gordon D'Arcy replace Luke Marshall at inside centre.

Teams:

Ireland:

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 David Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy

Substitutes: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Dan Tuohy, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Fergus McFadden

Wales:

15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins

Substitutes: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Rhys Webb, 23 James Hook, 24 Liam Williams

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