After naming their team to face Romania in the opening match of the World Cup this Saturday in Bordeaux, Ireland will play their first match after the January Six Nations.
Captain Sexton, aged 38, is part of a team that boasts 10 stars who tasted Grand Slam victory against England in March.
This experienced fly-half’s last competitive game was marred by Groin’s injury in the second half.
Sexton skipped Ireland’s three World Cup warm-up games last month because he was recovering from a trio of matches.
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In May, Sexton’s match referee Jaco Peyper imposed a ban following “an altercation and aggression” following the dramatic defeat in the Hein Cup Champions Cup final against Leinster.
Sexton’s 113 caps will come to an end at the end of Ireland’s World Cup campaign.
Coach Andy Farrell has made changes with Kate Earls and Garry Ringrose replacing Keith Earls and Robby Henshaw in the centre partnership a fortnight after winning against England.
At No. 8, Rob Herring’s name is on the bench, with regular starter Dean Shan not considered to start in the opener after suffering a foot injury during the warm-up win against England.
In the pack, Rob Herring is included, with Dan Sheehan not considered for the opener in the second row. In the Grand Slam game’s second row reshuffle, Mac Carratney has been included in place of Josh Van der Flier.
38-Year-Old Ireland Captain Excluded from World Cup Warm-Up Tests Due to Misconduct Allegations After the Champions Cup Final in August
In August, the 38-year-old captain of Ireland was excluded from all three World Cup warm-up tests due to allegations of misconduct after the Champions Cup Final. In this matter, he had contacted referee Jaco Peyper and faced criticism.
Head coach Andy Farrell has handed 22-year-old second rower Joe McCarthy his second cap alongside experienced James Ryan. Meanwhile, Tadhg Byrne has shifted to the blindside flanker position, and Peter O’Mahony and Caelan Doris are completing the back row from the previous squad.
On the other hand, Ireland is near full strength as Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls, and James Lowe are included in the back three. Johnny Sexton, who had been injured, is back, and he will partner with experienced scrum-half James Gibson-Park.
James Gibson-Park has partnered Sexton at half-back, while the first-choice Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong have formed the front row. Tadhg Byrne has moved to the blindside flanker position, with Dan Sheehan (hooker) injured, and Ronan Kelleher is on the bench.
In the pack, Rob Herring and Dan Kilcoyne are working towards full fitness, with Stuart McCloskey, Jamie O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Finlay Bealham, and Ryan Baird also excluded.
Ireland Team to Face Romania:
- Hugo Keena
- Keith Earls
- Garry Ringrose
- Bundee Aki
- James Lowe
- Johnny Sexton (captain)
- James Gibson-Park
- Andrew Porter
- Rob Herring
- Tadhg Furlong
- Joe McCarthy
- James Ryan
- Tadhg Byrne
- Peter O’Mahony
- Caelan Doris
Replacements:
- Ronan Kelleher
- Jeremy Loughman
- Tom O’Toole
- Iain Henderson
- Josh van der Flier
- Conor Murray
- Jack Carty
- Robbie Henshaw
Ireland, with 13 Test victories behind them, is going to the World Cup, which it has spread to the Al Black’s series victory last summer
Coach Farrell mentioned on Thursday, “There won’t be any mix-and-match games.” Whatever side we put out will be a strong side representing the group.”
No matter how we choose to proceed, our team will be formidable. We’re in a good place mentally. We expect fantastic performances.”
Sexton shared, “Throughout the past four years, we’ve been gearing up for this particular moment.” We’re stained by our record [never advancing beyond RWC quarters], but we have a lot of good memories of the World Cup, and we’re looking forward to it.”
After this victory in New Zealand, the Farrell team defeated South Africa and Australia in the autumn Test before the Grand Slam win, and this year they will face Australia in the Test in the autumn before winning the Grand Slam.
However, despite going to several tournaments as one of the Irish farm teams, all previous World Cups have failed to advance beyond the quarter-finals.
Expect Farrell to easily beat 19th-ranked Romania at the Stade de Bordeaux.
Romania, which has never reached the knockout stage of the World Cup in its previous eight attempts, has lost all nine meetings with Ireland, including three in the 1999, 2003, and 2015 tournaments.
Ireland’s World Cup Pool Games:
Ireland vs. Romania, Bordeaux, Saturday, September 9, 14:30 BST
Tonga vs. Ireland in Nantes on Saturday, September 16, at 8:00 PM BST.
Ireland vs. South Africa in Paris on Saturday, September 23, at 8:00 PM BST.
Ireland vs. Scotland, Paris, Saturday, October 7, 20:00 BST
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