Victor Costello has a calf strain and his place in the back row goes to Alan Quinlan while in the back line Justin Bishop of London Irish is named on the right wing in place of John Kelly who drops to the bench.

David Humphreys continues at out-half.

The Irish team to play Wales in the RBS Six Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday, March 22nd 2003 at 14.00 is as follows:

15 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

14 – Justin Bishop (London Irish)

13 – Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College) Captain

12 – Kevin Maggs (Bath)

11 – Denis Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary's College)

10 – David Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon)

9 – Peter Stringer (Munster/Shannon)

1 – Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon)

2 – Shane Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College)

3 – John Hayes (Munster/Shannon)

4 – Leo Cullen (Leinster / Blackrock College)

5 – Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary's College)

6 – Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon)

7 – Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary's College)

8 – Anthony Foley (Munster/Shannon)

Replacements: 16 – Frank Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution), 17 – Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), 18 – Donnchadh O'Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution), 19 – Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College), 20 – Guy Easterby (Llanelli), 21 – Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), 22 – John Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution)