Robbie Henshaw Starts For Ireland Against Wales

Friday, 5 February 2021 07:11

Andy Farrell has made some big calls this morning.

Athlone's Robbie Henshaw will win his 44th Ireland cap this Sunday.

He's been named at inside centre in Andy Farrell's side to play Wales in Cardiff.

The Leinster centre renews his partnership with Gary Ringrose, who returns from injury.

Josh Van Der Flier has got the nod to start at openside, with Peter O'Mahony reverting to the blindside.

Johnny Sexton captains the side while James Lowe and Keith earls taken the spots on the wing.

Hugo Keenan slotting in at full back means Jordan Larmour has to make do with a spot on the bench.

The other big call made by Farrell sees Billy Burns defeat Ross Byrne to back up Sexton at out-half.

Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong and Iain Henderson make for a strong looking set of Irish replacements.

Ireland and Wales will show their hands today, ahead of the Six Nations opener in Cardiff this Sunday.

#TeamOfUs

📄 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 🟢

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day 23 for the opening round of the #GuinnessSixNations against Wales in Cardiff 🙌#ShoulderToShoulder #IrishRugby #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/OPv2Abiu2c
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 5, 2021

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate will start for Wales for the first time since 2018 when they face Ireland in their opening game in rugby union's Six Nations on Sunday.

Adam Beard returns to the team to partner captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.

Ken Owens and Tomos Williams are also back in the starting 15 after injury.

Wales XV in Full:

1. Wyn Jones 2. Ken Owens 3. Tomas Francis 4. Adam Beard 5. Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT) 6. Dan Lydiate 7. Justin Tipuric 8. Taulupe Faletau 9. Tomos Williams 10. Dan Biggar 11. Hallam Amos 12. Johnny Williams 13. George North 14. Louis Rees-Zammit 15. Leigh Halfpenny

Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee 17. Rhodri Jones 18. Leon Brown 19. Will Rowlands 20. Josh Navidi 21. Gareth Davies 22. Callum Sheedy 23. Nick Tompkins.

𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒: Wales side to face @IrishRugby in our 2021 #GuinnessSixNations opener this Sunday ☘️ ⠀
⠀
⏎ 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘺𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘎𝘺𝘮𝘳𝘶 𝘢𝘮 𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘤𝘺𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘧 𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥 2018. ⠀
⠀
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #HWFN pic.twitter.com/tdEONKsBQi
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 5, 2021