Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby has dismissed speculation that he is in the mix to be the Warren Gatland's successor as Wales' head coach.

Easterby named his matchday squad this morning for Saturday's Six Nations clash in Cardiff amidst reports that he is one of the front-runners to replace Gatland in the Welsh hot-seat.

However the 49-year-old, who resides in Swansea and was previously a captain and head coach of the Scarlets, insists that his sole focus is on guiding Ireland until the summer in the absence of Andy Farrell, the Ireland supremo who is on secondment to the British and Irish Lions.

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"I didn't really know I had been linked," he said, wearing half a smile. "Of course there's been speculation but that's all there is speculation, I'm not in control of that. I love it here, I'm very fortunate with the people I get to work with here. For me, it's a dream job.

"It's speculation and not something I can control. Right now this is my only focus, whatever happens in the future, in a year's time I could lose my job and in sport it's very fluid people

"I've had no contact with the WRU, for me it's all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday and making sure me and the team prepare the team the right way. Whatever happens outside of that is outside my control."

Easterby has made seven changes to the starting line-up from the side that beat Scotland at Murrayfield last time out, with two of the changes were enforced.

Caelan Doris' absence at No 8 opens the door for a first start for Jack Conan since the Italy game in last year's Six Nations, while Rónan Kelleher's shoulder injury means that Dan Sheehan returns to the line-up for the first time since he suffered an ACL injury against South Africa last July.

Sheehan will captain Ireland for the first time, having skippered Leinster on several occasions in the past. "Dan has a lot of influence in the way he plays and he's been part of the leadership group for a good while, it feels like he's in a really good place himself coming back from injury," said Easterby.

"Obviously with Caelan not available we just felt it was a good time for Dan to grow that leadership in the group and over the week in how he handles that. He's captained Leinster so it's not something he hasn't done before."

The other changes see a first Six Nations start - and a first Test start altogether - for Thomas Clarkson. The 25-year-old tighthead replaces Finlay Bealham, having come off the bench against Argentina and Fiji in November, and against England and Scotland in this championship.

Joe McCarthy comes back into the second row for James Ryan after proving his fitness and having missed the opening two rounds after a training ground concussion.

In the backs, Jamie Osborne gets his first involvement in this Six Nations as Hugo Keenan's replacement at full-back, Mack Hansen returns for Calvin Nash after missing the Scotland game with a hamstring issue, Garry Ringrose comes in for Bundee Aki at centre while Sam Prendergast gets the nod again over Jack Crowley at out-half.

"It's an exciting team and part of the challenge for all of us as coaches is it's hard to select 15 at times because of the competition for certain positions," he said. "We need to keep growing depth and experience.

"It's one thing playing in the November internationals but it's another playing in the Principality Stadium with the roof closed.

"For Jamie and Tom, we think they'll thrive in that environment but until you're picked you won't know. It's an exciting challenge for those guys to come in and make their mark."

Easterby also insisted that, despite Wales' record-breaking run of 14 consecutive defeats, they won't roll over at the Principality Stadium.

"I think Wales are always dangerous, and you can read into whatever about the results and performances," he said. "But at home in the Principality they're a different beast and we have to respect that, they're playing in front of their home crowd and there's huge passion there.

"What's gone in the last few weeks they'll feel is disappointing but this is a fresh start. For us it's about making sure we have our own house in order."

Ireland: J Osborne; M Hansen, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan (capt), T Clarkson; J McCarthy, T Beirne; P O'Mahony, J Van der Flier, J Conan.

Replacements : G McCarthy, J Boyle, F Bealham, J Ryan, C Prendergast, C Murray, J Crowley, B Aki.

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