Brian O'Driscoll back for Ireland in Six Nations; Billy Twelvetrees picked for England BACK for Ireland: Veteran centre Brian O'Driscoll will play against Wales. IRELAND great Brian O'Driscoll is among several senior players restored by Declan Kidney to the starting side for this weekend's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff. Also taking the field at the Millennium Stadium will be fullback Rob Kearney, openside flanker Sean O'Brien and hooker Rory Best. Together with star centre O'Driscoll, they formed a quartet of experienced players who missed the whole of Ireland's end-of-year international campaign in November through injury. The 34-year-old O'Driscoll has been captain in 84 of his 120 Ireland Tests. But for the first time, when fit, since replacing Keith Wood as Ireland skipper in 2004, O'Driscoll has been relieved of the captaincy by Kidney with leadership duties passing to No.8 Jamie Heaslip instead. O'Driscoll will be alongside long-time Leinster and Ireland teammate Gordon D'Arcy in midfield, with Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray the halfback duo. Meanwhile, Kearney is set to form what should be a dynamic back three with wings Craig Gilroy and Simon Zebo, who both starred in November. In all there were four changes to the side that beat Argentina by the convincing margin of 46-24 last time out, with Chris Henry dropped to the bench as O'Brien and Peter O'Mahony returned to the back row. "We felt that in terms of a mix in the back row this was the best combination, but there was certainly plenty to talk about following Chris's performances in the autumn," Kidney said. Ireland have lost their last three matches against Wales, a run that includes a 2011 World Cup quarter-final defeat in New Zealand and a 23-21 reverse on the opening day of last season's Six Nations. But although Wales, due to name their side on Thursday, are the defending Grand Slam champions, they have lost their last seven Tests. Ireland: Rob Kearney; Craig Gilroy, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip (capt), Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; Donnacha Ryan, Mike McCarthy; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy. Res: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donncha O'Callaghan, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls. Twelvetrees set for England debut UNCAPPED Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees is set for an England debut against Scotland at Twickenham this weekend after being confirmed in coach Stuart Lancaster's 23-man matchday squad. With powerful Leicester midfielder Manu Tuilagi out of England's Six Nations opener due to injury, Twelvetrees was selected ahead of London Irish outside centre Jonathan Joseph. Meanwhile Saracens wing David Strettle was also included in the matchday 23, meaning there was no place in the squad for Northampton fullback Ben Foden. Lancaster is due to name his starting XV and eight replacements for the Calcutta Cup clash on Thursday. England squad Backs (10): Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Alex Goode (Saracens), David Strettle (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester) Forwards (13): Dan Cole (Leicester) Dylan Hartley (Northampton), James Haskell (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood, Tom Youngs (Leicester)