{"id":286699,"date":"2023-09-07T14:33:58","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=286699"},"modified":"2023-09-07T14:33:58","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:33:58","slug":"johnny-sexton-returns-as-ireland-confirm-two-key-absentees-for-world-cup-line-up-to-face-romania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/rugby-union\/johnny-sexton-returns-as-ireland-confirm-two-key-absentees-for-world-cup-line-up-to-face-romania\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnny Sexton returns as Ireland confirm two key absentees for World Cup line-up to face Romania"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ireland captain Johnny Sexton will make his first competitive appearance in almost six months after being selected to start Saturday\u2019s Rugby World Cup clash with Romania.<\/p>\n

Fly-half Sexton missed his country\u2019s three warm-up matches through suspension, having not played since injuring a groin as Ireland clinched the Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam on March 18.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old, who will retire after the tournament, will partner Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park on his long-awaited comeback in Bordeaux.<\/p>\n

Ulster hooker Rob Herring will fill the void left by Dan Sheehan\u2019s foot injury, with Ronan Kelleher, who sat out last month\u2019s wins over Italy, England and Samoa amid a hamstring issue, on the bench.<\/p>\n

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Lock Joe McCarthy, the least experienced international in Ireland\u2019s 33-man group, will make only his second Test start, alongside vice-captain James Ryan.<\/p>\n

Wing Mack Hansen and world player of the year Josh van der Flier, who is on the bench, are notable absentees from the line-up.<\/p>\n

Keith Earls has been selected ahead of Hansen on the right wing, with Van der Flier\u2019s non-selection resulting in Peter O\u2019Mahony lining up at openside flanker and Tadhg Beirne switching from the second row to blindside.<\/p>\n

Head coach Andy Farrell has selected the bulk of his star names, including 10 Leinster players, for the Pool B opener.<\/p>\n

First-choice props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong join Herring in the front row, while number eight Caelan Doris completes the back row.<\/p>\n

Playmakers Gibson-Park and Sexton will line up ahead of centres Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose.<\/p>\n

Wing James Lowe and full-back Hugo Keenan are among six World Cup debutants in the starting team.<\/p>\n

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That figure increases to 10 when including a bench which will be needed amid forecast temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius at Stade de Bordeaux.<\/p>\n

Kelleher is joined among the replacements by fellow tournament newcomers Jeremy Loughman, Tom O\u2019Toole and Jack Crowley, in addition to Iain Henderson, Van Der Flier, Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw.<\/p>\n

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