James to make Wales return in Six Nations opener

Cardiff Blues wing Tom James will end his five-year Wales exile in Sunday's Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin after being named in the team announced on Wednesday. James, 28, last played for Wales against New Zealand in November 2010, but will win his 10th cap on the wing after impressing head coach Warren Gatland with his club form this season. Blues full-back Gareth Anscombe, Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric also start, while captain Sam Warburton moves to blindside flanker and centre Jonathan Davies returns after a knee injury. "I think he has grown up and matured fantastically well as a person and a player," Gatland said of James's return to form, which followed a couple of seasons with English Premiership side Exeter. "If you look back at the history of it, he was in the Welsh goldfish bowl. He needed to get out, and he went out to play for Exeter in the Premiership and had some excellent form there. "He has come back and his form for the Blues has been outstanding, so he has been selected on merit. "He was unlucky not to be involved at the World Cup due to injuries. His form has been excellent and he deserves his opportunity to come back into the Welsh team." Clermont centre Davies missed the World Cup with a knee ligament injury, but returns to resume his midfield partnership alongside Harlequins' Roberts. A powerful bench, meanwhile, features British and Irish Lions trio Alex Cuthbert, Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate, who has been out for over a month with a neck problem. But there is no place in the match-day 23 for full-back Liam Williams, despite him playing 60 minutes for the Scarlets last Saturday as he returns to fitness following a foot injury. Wasps lock Bradley Davies, named among the replacements, will win his 50th cap if he comes on. - 'Physical game' - "We are excited by the make-up of the squad. It's very experienced, along with one eye looking to the future," Gatland added. "Rob (Evans) gets a start at loosehead. He's played well for us before and deserves a chance looking ahead to the next few years. "We have been impressed with Tom James's form for Cardiff Blues and we are excited by the mix of the back-row, which has played well together before. "It's great to see Jonathan (Davies) back and alongside Jamie (Roberts), which makes a pretty experienced midfield. Gareth (Anscombe) at full-back also gives us the option of having two first receivers." In total Gatland has made four changes from Wales's last game, a World Cup quarter-final defeat by South Africa, with James, Davies, Evans and Tipuric replacing Cuthbert, Tyler Morgan, Jenkins and Lydiate. Wales finished third behind champions Ireland and England in last year's Six Nations. They beat Ireland 23-16 at the Millennium Stadium last year, but Gatland has not forgotten their 26-3 defeat at Irish hands on their last trip to Dublin in February 2014. "It's going to be a physical game," said the New Zealander. "Two years ago they strangled us out of the match and played well, and we have to rise to that challenge on Sunday." Gatland admitted that the appointment of French referee Jerome Garces, who repeatedly penalised prop Jenkins in two games against England last year, had affected his front-row thinking. "It was part of the conscious decision in terms of that selection," Gatland said. "But I thought he was one of the best referees in the World Cup." Wales team (15-1) announced on Wednesday for Sunday's Six Nations game against Ireland at Dublin's Aviva Stadium (1500 GMT): Gareth Anscombe; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (capt); Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert