Ireland close to full-strength for Rugby World Cup warm-up clash with England
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during the 2023 Six Nations.
Ireland have named a strong starting XV for their penultimate Rugby World Cup warm-up encounter against England in Dublin on Saturday.
Having selected a makeshift outfit against Italy, giving fringe members of the squad a chance to impress, Andy Farrell has targeted this match ahead of the global tournament.
They are, of course, without Johnny Sexton due to his three-match ban but Ross Byrne, who stepped in when needed during the Six Nations, takes his place at fly-half.
Interesting selection at number eight
It is not quite the strongest XV Ireland could field, however, with Connacht’s Cian Prendergast the most notable inclusion.
The 23-year-old won just his second cap against Italy and gets another opportunity this weekend as Farrell searches for another back-up number eight in the absence of Jack Conan.
He joins the experienced Peter O’Mahony and current World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier in the back-row.
At lock, the reliable combination of Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan reform while the front-row is the all-Leinster trio of Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter.
Behind the scrum, Jamison Gibson-Park combines with Byrne at half-back, while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are the centre partnership.
The back three is the one which impressed so much in the Six Nations, with Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe lining up together.
100 up for Keith Earls
On the bench, there are 2023 Six Nations regulars Finlay Bealham, Caelan Doris and Conor Murray, but the headline inclusion is Keith Earls, who will win his 100th cap if he comes onto the field.
Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy and Jack Crowley are the other replacements for the encounter with England.
Those four will be looking to stake their claim ahead of the final squad announcement which will be on August 28.
The team
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan (c), 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Keith Earls
Date: Saturday, August 19
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:30 BST (16:30 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
READ MORE: New twist in Owen Farrell saga as fly-half’s Rugby World Cup hopes hang in the balance