Iain Henderson will captain his country for the first time when Ireland face France at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, as Andy Farrell makes four changes to the side that lost to Wales in Round 1.
All of the changes have been forced upon the Irish boss, with Johnny Sexton and James Ryan not considered for selection after not hitting all their markers in the return to play protocols this week, while Conor Murray misses out with a hamstring injury.
That means there is a new-look starting half-back pairing for the visit of Fabien Galthie’s side, with Billy Burns deputising at fly-half alongside Jamison Gibson-Park, who earns just his sixth international cap.
Skipper Henderson makes the step up from a place on the bench in Cardiff last time out and becomes the 108th man to lead his country in the process, with Tadhg Beirne lining up alongside him in the second row.
The final change comes at flanker, with Peter O’Mahony suspended for the next three matches following his red card during last week’s defeat at Principality Stadium, as Rhys Ruddock fills the No.6 jersey instead.
Ruddock will slot in at blindside alongside Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander in the back row, with the latter edging ever closer to 50 international appearances.
Otherwise, it’s as you were for the Men in Green, with the same front row that started against Wales kept together, with Cian Healy, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter all ready for action as Healy wins his 106th cap to take him past John Hayes (105) as Ireland’s most-capped prop.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose continue at centre, while Hugo Keenan starts at full-back with Keith Earls and James Lowe on the wings.
There are four changes on the bench as Ed Byrne, Ultan Dillane, Ross Byrne and the uncapped Craig Casey come in, with Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Will Connors and Jordan Larmour also in reserve.
Ireland team to face France:
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster) 7 caps 14. Keith Earls (Munster) 89 caps 13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 31 caps 12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster) 48 caps 11. James Lowe (Leinster) 3 caps 10. Billy Burns (Ulster) 4 caps 9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 6 caps 1. Cian Healy (Leinster) 105 caps 2. Rob Herring (Ulster) 17 caps 3. Andrew Porter (Leinster) 33 caps 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 18 caps 5. Iain Henderson (C) (Ulster) 59 caps 6. Rhys Ruddock (Leinster) 26 caps 7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 29 caps 8. CJ Stander (Munster) 47 caps
Replacements
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster) 7 caps 17. Ed Byrne (Leinster) 3 caps 18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 45 caps 19. Ultan Dillane (Connacht) 17 caps 20. Will Connors (Leinster) 6 caps 21. Craig Casey (Munster) uncapped 22. Ross Byrne (Leinster) 11 caps 23. Jordan Larmour (Leinster) 25 caps
