Munster wing Calvin Nash and Leinster lock Joe McCarthy will make their Six Nations debuts in Eire’s championship opener in opposition to France however centre Garry Ringrose misses out attributable to a shoulder situation.
Jack Crowley has been chosen at fly-half for Friday night’s curtain-raiser in Marseille following the retirement of former captain Johnny Sexton after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Andy Farrell’s beginning XV, led by flanker Peter O’Mahony, exhibits simply 4 modifications from Eire’s 28-24 quarter-final defeat to New Zealand on October 14, with Robbie Henshaw coming in for the sidelined Ringrose within the different alteration.
The 29-year-old Leinster co-captain is anticipated to be again in competition for the round-two conflict with Italy on February 11. His absence sees Henshaw return to midfield, alongside 2023 World Rugby participant of the yr nominee Bundee Aki.
Munster No 10 Crowley, who has 9 worldwide caps, will make his full Six Nations debut to stake his declare as long-term successor to Sexton. The 24-year-old’s solely earlier motion within the championship was a three-minute cameo in opposition to Italy 12 months in the past.
Ciaran Frawley, who, like Nash, gained his one and solely Check cap by approaching in opposition to the Azzurri final summer season, will present fly-half cowl from the bench, whereas Harry Byrne – the youthful brother of the injured Ross Byrne – should look ahead to his alternative.
Title-holders Eire defeated France 32-19 in Dublin final February en path to dethroning their rivals as Grand Slam champions.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong proceed in an unchanged entrance row, with fellow Leinster gamers Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris becoming a member of new skipper O’Mahony on the base of the pack.
Jamison Gibson-Park retains the scrum-half position forward of Conor Murray, with James Lowe on the left wing and Hugo Keenan at full-back.
Veteran prop Cian Healy returns to the bench at Stade Velodrome after lacking the World Cup with a calf harm. The 36-year-old loosehead is joined by Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Murray and Frawley.
France head coach Fabien Galthie named his crew earlier on Wednesday, with Maxime Lucu taking the place of Antoine Dupont, who’s lacking this yr’s Six Nations to arrange for representing Les Bleus within the rugby sevens event on the Paris Olympics, at scrum-half.
France vs Eire groups
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu; 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c).
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Eire: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley.
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