Talking about his selection for the starting line-up, Ulster's Paddy Wallace said: "It's always nice to be reselected for the National team; I'm really looking forward to playing my part in another Six Nations Championship."
"The way I'm playing in the centre I'm very confident that I can take the step up, as I did on the summer tour. With Ronan O'Gara establishing himself as the number one out half, I'd be more determined to start matches, so I would like to see myself in the centre first, but covering on the bench for 10 if needs be. I've been playing a long time in the centre and it's a position I enjoy immensely."
"It's always your ambition to play for your country and I'd like to get more game time than I've had. I've always been a bench player with Ireland but whenever I've had my opportunity I haven't let myself down and it would be nice to get a run of games."
"It's certainly an ambition of mine to play more rugby for Ireland, it's the pinnacle to play for your country and I've had the opportunity to do it a few times and you crave it a bit more because of that," added Wallace.
Ronan O'Gara and Tomas O'Leary continue their provincial partnership at out-half and scrum half respectively.
The forwards include Jerry Flannery at hooker. Flannery will pack down in the front row with Marcus Horan and John Hayes, who will be winning his 90th cap for Ireland and making his 46th appearance in the 6Nations.
Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell start in the second row together for Ireland for the 23rd time.
The back row trio of Ulster's Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip remain in place from the side that started against Argentina during November.
Ulster's Tom Court, the only uncapped player in the Ireland panel, will provide prop cover on the replacements bench, alongside Ulster's Rory Best, who will also start Irelands first game on the bench.
Ireland Team
15 - Robert Kearney
14 - Tommy Bowe
13 - Brian O'Driscoll
12 - Paddy Wallace
11 - Luke Fitzgerald
10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Tomas O'Leary
1 - Marcus Horan
2 - Jerry Flannery
3 - John Hayes
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Stephen Ferris
7 - David Wallace
8 - Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16 - Rory Best
17 - Tom Court
18 - Malcolm O'Kelly
19 - Denis Leamy
20 - Peter Stringer
21 - Gordon D'Arcy
22 - Geordan Murphy
