Lord of the Dance
Andy Farrell has picked his side for the Six Nations opener against Wales
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Andy Farrell has picked his side for the Six Nations opener against Wales

IRELAND HEAD coach Andy Farrell has picked his match-day 23 to face Wales at the Aviva in their Six Nations opener against Wales on Saturday.

The most surprising inclusion is that of Connacht’s Mack Hansen. The Australia-born 23-year-old, whose mother is Irish, has impressed Farrell in Ireland's training camp in Portugal and gets the nod over the Keith Earls on the left flank.

Limerick , Ireland - 16 October 2021; Mack Hansen of Connacht dives over to score a try k. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

There was huge clamour by rugby pundits for Robert Baloucoune and Mike Lowry to make an appearance for Ireland, but both have been given permission to play for Ulster against Connacht this weekend.

Hansen joins Hugo Keenan and Andrew Conway in a back three.

Bundee Aki gets the nod over Robbie Henshaw and will now partner Garry Ringrose in the midfield. Henshaw and James Hume makes the bench.

Johnny Sexton has been selected as out-half  and captain and will be paired up with Jamison Gibson-Park.

Up front, it's an all Leinster front-row of Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong, while James Ryan partners in-form Tadhg Beirne in the second-row.

Leinster complete the back-row with another trio, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan linking up once again.

Farrell prefers Dan Sheehan to Rob Herring as reserve hooker, as Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham cover the prop positions.

Ryan Baird is selected ahead of injury doubt Iain Henderson, while Munster's Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Joey Carbery cover back-row and the half-backs.

Ireland team to face Wales in Six Nations opener

  1. Hugo Keenan
  2. Andrew Conway
  3. Garry Ringrose
  4. Bundee Aki
  5. Mack Hansen
  6. Johnny Sexton
  7. Jamison Gibson-Park
  8. Andrew Porter
  9. Ronan Kelleher
  10. Tadhg Furlong
  11. Tadhg Beirne
  12. James Ryan
  13. Caelan Doris
  14. Josh van der Flier
  15. Jack Conan

Replacements

D Sheehan,

Cian Healy,

F Bealham,

Ryan Baird,

P O'Mahony,

Conor Murray,

Joey Carbery,

Robbie Henshaw.