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Ulster's Iain Henderson named to start for Ireland

Ireland v Scotland, Saturday October 7 (8pm)

Iain Henderson in Ireland training this week.
Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 5th Oct 2023

Ulster's Iain Henderson will start for Ireland in Saturday's final pool game against Scotland at the World Cup.

He's one of two changes made by Andy Farrell from the wide that beat South Africa in Paris just under a fortnight ago.

Dan Sheehan will start at hooker in place of Ronan Kelleher, while lock Henderson replaces James Ryan, who injured his hand against the South Africans.

Meanwhile, Henderson's Ulster team-mate Stuart McCloskey is named in the replacements.

Following wins over Romania, Tonga and the aforementioned victory against South Africa, Ireland conclude their pool campaign against Gregor Townsend‘s side at Stade de France on Saturday night (8pm).

Peter O’Mahony is set to win his 100th cap for Ireland as he starts in the back row, with the 34-year-old in line to become just the 10th Irish player to reach the landmark.

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe start in an unchanged Ireland back three, with Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki continuing in the midfield. Captain Johnny Sexton partners Jamison Gibson-Park once again in the half-backs.

Up front, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong pack down either side of Sheehan, with Tadhg Beirne and Henderson named in the second row. O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris complete the starting XV.

The fit-again Jack Conan is in line for his first appearance in the competition as he’s named on the replacements bench, joining forwards Ronan Kelleher, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham and James Ryan, while Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Stuart McCloskey provide the backline reinforcements.

Ireland Team

  1. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)(34)
  1. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)(19)
  1. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(55)
  1. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)(50)
  1. James Lowe (Leinster)(24)
  1. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) (captain) (116)
  1. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(28)
  1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)(57)
  1. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)(19)
  1. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)(70)
  1. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(44)
  1. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)(77)
  1. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(99)
  1. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(55)
  1. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(34)

Replacements

  1. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)(24)
  1. David Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians)(54)
  1. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(34)
  1. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(58)
  1. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)(39)
  1. Conor Murray Munster/Garryowen)(110)
  1. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)(8)
  1. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)(14)