Ireland lock Joe McCarthy has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations opener against England due to injury.
Interim head coach Simon Easterby has shifted Tadhg Beirne into the second row as a replacement for McCarthy, while Ryan Baird is set for a rare international start, having been named at blindside flanker.
Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast retains his position over Munster’s Jack Crowley, after donning the number 10 jersey for Ireland’s final two autumn matches, which saw victories over Fiji and Australia.
McCarthy, aged 23, had started in each of Ireland’s 11 Tests in 2024 following an outstanding performance in last year’s championship opener against France.
Baird, who has earned most of his 24 Test caps as a substitute, did start when back-to-back champions Ireland clinched the Grand Slam by defeating England in 2023.
Easterby’s first starting XV since taking over from Andy Farrell on an interim basis reveals only two personnel changes from the team that began the 22-19 win over Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on November 30. Centre Garry Ringrose is recalled, replacing Robbie Henshaw to rekindle his partnership with Bundee Aki.
Ronan Kelleher holds onto his position as hooker, with Dan Sheehan among the replacements, having scored two tries for Leinster last weekend upon his return from a long-term knee injury.
Tighthead prop Finlay Bealham continues in the absence of injured Tadhg Furlong, with loosehead Andrew Porter rounding off the front row.
Beirne will join forces with James Ryan, while 25-year-old Baird is set to bolster the back row alongside captain Caelan Doris and openside flanker Josh van der Flier. Jamison Gibson-Park will rekindle his half-back pairing with 21-year-old provincial colleague Prendergast.
The starting XV is rounded out by full-back Hugo Keenan and wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe.
The bench sees the return of back-rower Jack Conan, absent at international level since last year’s competition, complemented by replacements including Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tom Clarkson, Iain Henderson, Conor Murray, Crowley, and Henshaw.
In anticipation of England’s impending encounter in Dublin after their training stint in Portugal, Easterby remarked: “It wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23.
“Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week.
“England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance. We’re ready for the challenge and excited to get going.”
Ireland team: H Keenan (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Baird (Leinster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: D Sheehan (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster).
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