CJ Stander set for Ireland debut against Wales

South Africa-born flanker CJ Stander will make his international debut for his adopted Ireland in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales, with Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney joining a further seven Irish stars ruled out the game with injury.

Stander, who plys his trade with Munster in the Pro 12, will start at blindside at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, after the 25-year-old was granted Ireland qualification on residency grounds.

Leinster duo O'Brien and Kearney however have both failed to beat respective hamstring trouble in time to face Wales, so Tommy O'Donnell partners Stander at openside flanker and Simon Zebo replaces Kearney at full-back.

O'Brien and Kearney sat out training on Friday, although Ireland are optimistic they will have two of their most experienced internationals fit in time for their second Six Nations match against France in Paris on Saturday week.

"Sean O'Brien would have been just on the edge of being available to play," said Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt.

"But we'd have no concerns about next week for France.

"Rob Kearney should be fully fit at the latest by Thursday next week, but his is a very minor strain that should see him right to train on Tuesday.

"CJ Stander is a really committed character and I hope he's ready to step up. We felt he would make it a good mix in the absence of Sean O'Brien."

Flanker O'Donnell sustained a dislocated hip in Ireland's 35-21 warm-up victory over Wales in Cardiff in August.

However despite O'Donnell's recovery, Ireland are still shorn of six regular starters in their pack this weekend.

Props Cian Healy and Mike Ross, lock Iain Henderson, and flankers Peter O'Mahony and Chris Henry have all joined O'Brien in being unable for selection due to injury.

Only three players who started for Ireland in their 43-20 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina last October have retained their places against Wales; newly annoited skipper Rory Best, vice captain Jamie Heaslip and Devin Toner

Stander's debut has been accelerated due to O'Mahony's absence, but the former Springboks Under-20s star has excelled in his three years with Munster - with his Test debut delayed only by the residency qualification requirements.

Meanwhile with Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald both long-term absentees, Keith Earls partners Andrew Trimble on the wings.

Schmidt has restored his preferred midfield partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne, although the former Leinster coach admitted Ireland's backroom staff toyed with the idea of throwing in Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey for his international debut before ultimately settling on the tried-and-tested Henshaw-Payne partnership.

Ireland could become the first team ever to win three successive Six Nations titles, but Schmidt still expects a huge battle against Warren Gatland's Wales.

"We looked quite hard at the Stu McCloskey-Luke Marshall combination because that was already a settled one," said Schmidt.

"And we had the opportunity to slot in the combination we had seen and used right through the Six Nations.

"Last year against Wales, Jared (Payne) beat the most defenders and made the most metres for us.

"He played a sterling game and at the same time, Robbie (Henshaw) was one of our go-to players."