Mayo man starts as Farrell names side to face France
Irish Rugby Head Coach, Andy Farrell, and captain Peter O’Mahony with the Guinness Six Nations trophy at the launch of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Lacken native Caelan Doris is starting number 8 as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his matchday squad for Friday night’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations opener against France in Marseille (Kick-off 9pm local time/8pm Irish time).
11 of the 15 who started in October's Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand will start on Friday.
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 1 clash at Stade Velodrome, with a number of players in line for their Six Nations debuts in green.
Joe McCarthy has been named to start in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne, while Calvin Nash lines up on the right wing having made his Test debut against Italy in last summer’s Bank of Ireland Nations Series.
Nash is joined in the back three by Hugo Keenan at full-back and James Lowe on the left, with Bundee Aki partnering Robbie Henshaw in the Ireland midfield.
In the half-backs, Jamison Gibson-Park starts at nine alongside Jack Crowley at out-half, who is in line for his first Six Nations start.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are selected in the front row, with McCarthy set for his sixth cap in the engine room beside Beirne. Captain O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Doris complete the Ireland starting team.
Farrell has opted for a six-two split on the replacements bench with Ronan Kelleher, the fit again Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements in the pack, with Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley – also in line for his first Championship appearance – the backline options.
Friday’s match is live on Virgin Media One in Republic of Ireland and ITV in the United Kingdom.
Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley.
