Captain Ryan Jones has withdrawn injured and been replaced by Gloucester No.8 Gareth Delve, with Wales to be skippered by Martyn Williams in their Six Nations clash with Ireland this weekend.

Jones has been carrying a calf injury. Delve will earn his 10th cap but his first since 2008.

Williams will captain Wales for the seventh time as he becomes the most capped Welsh forward with 95 appearances.

Hooker Matthew Rees also returns, bumping Huw Bennett to the reserves, and lock Luke Charteris will stay where he finished after replacing Deiniol Jones, who was injured during the 26-20 loss to France last round.

The only other changes by coach Warren Gatland are in the reserves, where scrumhalf Dwayne Peel is in for Mike Phillips, and lock Ian Gough backing up Charteris.

Wales: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Richie Rees; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams (Capt), Gareth Delve. Replacements: Huw Bennett, Rhys Gill, Ian Gough, Sam Warburton, Dwayne Peel, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin.

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