Furlong ruled out of Ireland's Wales meeting
Last updated 2nd Feb 2023
Tadgh Furlong has been a late omission from the Ireland side named to face Wales in Saturday's Six Nations opener.
He had trained fully this week but hasn't played since December due to a calf injury.
Stuart McCloskey will partner Garry Ringrose as expected in the centre. McCloskey began all three of Ireland's Autumn Nations Series games.
The backline shows no surprises, with Jamison Gibson-Park starting alongside Sexton in the half-backs, and the centre combination of McCloskey and Ringrose.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Finlay Bealham; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ross Byrne, Bundee Aki.