Johnny Sexton is back in the Ireland team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup opener against Romania.
The Ireland captain has missed the last six months due to a combination of injury and suspension.
Sexton suffered a serious groin injury in the Six Nations Grand Slam-winning Test against England in Dublin on March 18, which kept him out of the remainder of Leinster’s club season.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell has gone with a strong starting 15 for their Pool B opener in Bordeaux.
Joe McCarthy starts in the second row alongside James Ryan so Tadhg Beirne’s named in the back row – there’s also a start on the wing for Keith Earls, while Jack Crowley is preferred to Ross Byrne among the replacements.
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