Mack Hansen has shrugged off a calf strain to take his place in an unchanged Ireland starting lineup for the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand on Saturday.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday named an unchanged starting XV for the quarter-final clash at the Stade de France in Paris.
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Hansen was doubtful with a calf injury that forced him to sit out Tuesday’s training session, but retains his place on the wing.
Fellow winger James Lowe has also recovered from the eye injury that forced him to withdraw from the final Pool B match against Scotland at half time. This means that there is no place in the matchday-23 for veteran Keith Earls, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
The only changes to the matchday squad come on the bench, as James Ryan has been ruled out with a wrist injury and is replaced by Leinster’s Joe McCarthy, who will earn just his fifth Test cap if he is called on. Robbie Henshaw has not recovered from a hamstring injury and his place on the bench is taken by Leinster utility back Jimmy O’Brien.
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Ireland – 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe; 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony; 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Tadhg Beirne; 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Jimmy O’Brien.
Photo: MARTIN BUREAU / AFP