Big Joe McCarthy misses Ireland’s Six Nations opener with England

Ireland lock Joe McCarthy will miss Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England due to injury.

Interim head coach Simon Easterby has moved Tadhg Beirne into the second row to replace McCarthy, with Ryan Baird given a rare international start after being named at blindside flanker.

Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast is again preferred to Munster’s Jack Crowley, having worn the number 10 jersey for his country’s final two autumn fixtures, victories over Fiji and Australia.

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McCarthy, 23, started each of Ireland’s 11 Tests in 2024 on the back of an impressive display in last year’s championship opener away to France.

Baird has won the bulk of his 24 Test caps as a replacement but did start when back-to-back champions Ireland completed the Grand Slam by beating England in 2023.

Fixture

Six Nations

Ireland

27 - 22

Full-time

England

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Easterby’s maiden starting XV since since taking over from Andy Farrell on a temporary basis shows only two personnel changes to the team which began the 22-19 win over Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on November 30.

Centre Garry Ringrose is the other man recalled, replacing Robbie Henshaw to resume his partnership with Bundee Aki.

Ronan Kelleher has been retained at hooker, with Dan Sheehan among the replacements, having scored two tries for Leinster last weekend on his return from a long-term knee injury.

Tighthead prop Finlay Bealham continues amid the ongoing injury absence of Tadhg Furlong, with loosehead Andrew Porter completing the front row.

Beirne partners James Ryan, while 25-year-old Baird joins captain Caelan Doris and openside flanker Josh van der Flier in the back row.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park resumes his half-back partnership with provincial team-mate Prendergast, 21.

Full-back Hugo Keenan and wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe complete the line-up.

Back-rower Jack Conan, who has not featured at international level since last year’s tournament, is among the replacements, in addition to Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tom Clarkson, Iain Henderson, Conor Murray, Crowley and Henshaw.

Looking ahead to England’s visit to Dublin following a training camp in Portugal, Easterby said: “It wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23.

“Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week.

“England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance.

“We’re ready for the challenge and excited to get going.”

Ireland team: H Keenan (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Baird (Leinster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster, capt).

Replacements: D Sheehan (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster).