George North moves back to familiar wing positionCentre Nick Tompkins will make first start for WalesWayne Pivac is preparing for the biggest match of his coaching career on an afternoon in
Dublin when the weather is forecast to do its worst. The new Wales coach, who succeeded Warren Gatland after last year’s
World Cup, started with a comprehensive victory over
Italy last Saturday but knows that was a tea party compared with what his side will face against the last side to defeat them in the Six Nations two years ago.
Pivac has fond memories of the Aviva Stadium, the ground where the Scarlets team he coached won the Pro12 final against Munster 46-22 in style in 2017, but Saturday will be markedly different in terms of exposure and intensity. He has made one personnel change from the side who defeated Italy 42-0, Nick Tompkins starting at 13 after making a try-scoring debut from the bench and George North moving to the wing in place of Johnny McNicholl, who joins the replacements.