IRELAND HAVE BEEN hit by a late injury blow in Cardiff, with scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of this afternoon’s Six Nations opener against Wales [KO 2.15pm, Virgin Media] through injury.
The experienced Conor Murray takes Gibson-Park’s place in the starting team, with Craig Casey promoted onto the bench.
There is another change to the Irish bench, with Cian Healy missing out and Dave Kilcoyne coming into the matchday 23 as the back-up loosehead prop.
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Leinster man Gibson-Park is understood to have picked up a hamstring injury, possibly during Ireland’s captain’s run at the Principality Stadium yesterday.
It means Murray comes into the Ireland team for his 101st cap.
The 33-year-old has recently lost his starting spot in Munster to Craig Casey and even missed out on the matchday 23 for a Champions Cup game last month, but Ireland boss Andy Farrell had preferred Murray to Casey in his original group for today’s game.
Murray has now been promoted into the starting team, with Casey set for his eighth cap off the bench.
Meanwhile, Kilcoyne gets a chance to show that his good form for Munster can translate onto the Test scene, with the loosehead prop in line for his first Ireland appearance since last year’s Six Nations.
Ireland had already seen first-choice tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong ruled out of this game due to injury, with Finlay Bealham coming into the starting XV in his place for what will be his first Six Nations start.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Conor Murray
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Tom O’Toole
19. Iain Henderson
20. Jack Conan
21. Craig Casey
22. Ross Byrne
23. Bundee Aki
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Confirmed: Murray starts for Ireland in place of injured Gibson-Park
LAST UPDATE | 4 Feb 2023
IRELAND HAVE BEEN hit by a late injury blow in Cardiff, with scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of this afternoon’s Six Nations opener against Wales [KO 2.15pm, Virgin Media] through injury.
The experienced Conor Murray takes Gibson-Park’s place in the starting team, with Craig Casey promoted onto the bench.
There is another change to the Irish bench, with Cian Healy missing out and Dave Kilcoyne coming into the matchday 23 as the back-up loosehead prop.
Leinster man Gibson-Park is understood to have picked up a hamstring injury, possibly during Ireland’s captain’s run at the Principality Stadium yesterday.
It means Murray comes into the Ireland team for his 101st cap.
The 33-year-old has recently lost his starting spot in Munster to Craig Casey and even missed out on the matchday 23 for a Champions Cup game last month, but Ireland boss Andy Farrell had preferred Murray to Casey in his original group for today’s game.
Murray has now been promoted into the starting team, with Casey set for his eighth cap off the bench.
Meanwhile, Kilcoyne gets a chance to show that his good form for Munster can translate onto the Test scene, with the loosehead prop in line for his first Ireland appearance since last year’s Six Nations.
Ireland had already seen first-choice tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong ruled out of this game due to injury, with Finlay Bealham coming into the starting XV in his place for what will be his first Six Nations start.
Ireland:
Replacements:
Get instant updates on your province on The42 app. With Laya Healthcare, official health and wellbeing partner to Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby.
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Breaking Six Nations Conor Murray Ireland