Ireland kick-off their 2023 Rugby World Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Romania in Pool B on Saturday in Bordeaux (2.30pm UK time); Johnny Sexton to play first match since March after groin harm and suspension; Joe McCarthy to make his second Test match start
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 07/09/23 2:25pm
Johnny Sexton has returned to the Ireland staff for their 2023 Rugby World Cup opener vs Romania
Johnny Sexton has been named to start for Ireland of their 2023 Rugby World Cup opener vs Romania on Saturday, for his first recreation of rugby in any kind since March.
Sexton suffered a critical groin harm in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam-winning Test vs England in Dublin on March 18, which stored him out of the rest of Leinster’s membership season.
The 38-year-old Ireland skipper was suspended for all three of Ireland’s World Cup warm-up Tests in August due to a misconduct cost following the Champions Cup ultimate, during which he approached and criticised referee Jaco Peyper.
Head coach Andy Farrell has handed 22-year-old second row Joe McCarthy simply his second Test start, alongside the skilled James Ryan, as Tadhg Beirne shifts to blindside flanker and Peter O’Mahony and Caelan Doris full the back-row.
Joe McCarthy has been handed his second Test start at lock
Otherwise, Ireland are close to full-strength as Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls and James Lowe kind the back-three, with Mack Hansen not concerned, and Garry Ringrose companions Bundee Aki in midfield, with Robbie Henshaw on the bench.
Jamison Gibson-Park companions Sexton at half-back, whereas first-choice props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong flank hooker Rob Herring, with Dan Sheehan (foot) out injured, and Ronan Kelleher beginning among the many replacements.
Loosehead Jeremy Loughman, tighthead Tom O’Toole, lock Iain Henderson, openside Josh van der Flier, scrum-half Conor Murray and fly-half Jack Crowley be part of Kelleher and Henshaw on the bench, finishing the squad.
No 8 Jack Conan (foot) and loosehead Dave Kilcoyne (hamstring) proceed to work their means again to full health, with Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Finlay Bealham and Ryan Baird the opposite males to miss out.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rob Herring, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Peter O’Mahony, 8 Caelan Doris.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Sexton: Ireland have constructed for this second
“There’s no mix and match. Whatever side we put out will be a good side that represents the group,” head coach Farrell stated on Thursday.
“Whatever side we pick will be threatening. Our mindset is full steam ahead. We expect a fantastic performance.”
Sexton added: “We’ve built for this moment for the last four years. We get tarnished by our record [never going past RWC quarters] but we have a lot of good memories at World Cups and we are very much looking forward to it.
“We have not seemed previous this recreation. We will fear about quarter-finals if we get there.”
Follow Ireland’s opening 2023 Rugby World Cup match in opposition to Romania throughout Sky Sports’ digital platforms.
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