Ireland: Johnny Sexton back at 10 as Andy Farrell tinkers for Six Nations clash with England
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been named in their starting XV for Saturday’s mouth-watering Six Nations meeting with England at Twickenham.
The Round Four clash sees Sexton return to the line-up at fly-half and he is joined in the half-backs by in-form scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
Sexton came off the bench during the 57-6 round-three win over Italy after missing the defeat to Grand Slam-chasing France with a minor injury.
Sexton comes in for Joey Carbery
The 36-year-old, who this week signed a contract extension and announced he’ll retire following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, replaces Joey Carbery.
Bundee Aki is restored at centre to partner Garry Ringrose while Andrew Conway and full-back Hugo Keenan are also back alongside James Lowe.
Up front, Ireland veteran prop Cian Healy wins his 115th cap in a front-row that also includes Leinster team-mates Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan will line out in the engine room while Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris make up a strong back-row.
On the replacements bench, Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson and Jack Conan cover the pack. Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Robbie Henshaw are the backline options for what should be an absorbing Six Nations showdown.
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Robbie Henshaw
Date: Saturday, March 12
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
READ MORE: Six Nations: Ireland’s James Ryan says finding a balance is key to a result at Twickenham
Johnny Sexton versus Marcus Smith
Lewis Moody speaks about veteran Johnny Sexton and young Marcus Smith.