The positional switch sees Conan Doyle move from inside centre to outhalf, with Jonathon Sexton moving to the bench.  Fergus McFadden steps into the inside centre position. In the forwards, Michael Essex comes into the backrow in place of Ross Noonan and Sean O'Brien is named at No.8 with Billy Holland taking O'Brien's position with the replacements.

The game will be televised live by RTE.

The Ireland Under 21 team to play against Wales Under 21 at Dubarry Park, Athlone at 19.35hrs on Friday, 24th February 2006 is as follows:  

IRELAND: 15. Fionn Carr (Blackrock College); 14. Peter Durcan (Galwegians); 13. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins); 12. Fergus McFadden (UCD); 11. Matthew Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College); 10. Conan Doyle (Garryowen); 9. Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch); 1. Darragh Hurley (UCC); 2. Stuart Philpott (Belfast Harlequins) Captain ; 3. Paul Doran-Jones (Dublin University) ; 4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne) ; 5. Daniel Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College); 6. Michael Essex (UCC); 7. Ejike Uzoigwe (Hartpury College); 8. Sean O'Brien (UCD)
 
Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin (Shannon); 17. Callum Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College); 18. David McGowan (Buccaneers); 19. Billy Holland (UCC); 20. Duncan Williams (UCC); 21. Tom Gleeson (Cork Con); 22. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College)