Stuart McCloskey will fill the vacuum left by injured centre Robbie Henshaw as Ireland open their Six Nations campaign against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has kept faith with McCloskey after he featured in all three November Tests in 2022 – the 30-year-old will partner Garry Ringrose with Bundee Aki on the bench.
It will be McCloskey’s 10th cap in all and his first appearance in the Six Nations since making his Test debut in February 2016 against England.
Johnny Sexton has recovered from the cheekbone injury he suffered last month and will captain the side in what will be his 110th Test.
The 37-year-old fly-half will be partnered at halfback by his Leinster teammate Jamison Gibson-Park.
Sexton’s long-time Test partner Conor Murray is on the bench with Ross Byrne chosen as back-up flyhalf ahead of youngster Jack Crowley.
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Crowley started Ireland’s last Test – a 13-10 win over Australia in November – after Sexton withdrew due to an injury in the warm-up, but Byrne came on and nailed a match-winning 45-metre penalty with minutes remaining.
Byrne’s Leinster teammate Tadhg Furlong misses out due to a calf injury – the British & Irish Lions prop has been plagued by fitness problems and played just over half an hour of rugby since November.
Furlong is replaced by Australia-born Finlay Bealham in the starting lineup with Farrell confident he can do a good job in what will be his 28th Test appearance for his adopted country.
“Finlay deserves it. He’s playing very well,” Farrell told reporters on Thursday.
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Bealham’s Connacht teammate and also Australia-born Mack Hansen gets the nod on one wing with James Lowe returning on the other having missed the November Tests through injury.
Loose forward Peter O’Mahony will be hoping for a happier experience on his return to Cardiff where two years ago he was sent off after just 14 minutes – the Irish put up a gutsy performance to only lose 21-16.
The top-ranked team Ireland will start favourites against a Wales side welcoming back Warren Gatland as head coach for a second spell, even though the visitors have lost their last four matches in Cardiff.
Meanwhile, Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny has withdrawn due to injury and Liam Williams comes in at No 15 for the Dragons.
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