Six Nations 2024: Robbie Henshaw and Joe McCarthy to start for Ireland against

Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland’s Six Nations opener against France on Friday because of a shoulder injury as Robbie Henshaw is drafted in at centre and Joe McCarthy starts at lock.

McCarthy’s inclusion means James Ryan is on the bench, with Ulster’s Iain Henderson left out of the matchday 23.

Mack Hansen’s injury means wing Calvin Nash earns a first Ireland start.

Nash won his only previous cap when he came on as a late replacement in the World Cup warm-up win over Italy in early August.

The Munster wing was not named in Ireland’s World Cup squad but with Hansen (dislocated shoulder) and Jimmy O’Brien (neck) both ruled out of the tournament by injury, Nash, as expected, will make his Six Nations debut in Marseille.

Henderson’s absence means there are no Ulster players in the Six Nations holders’ squad, with Connacht represented by prop Finlay Bealham, who is named in the replacements.

Crowley takes over from retired Sexton

Jack Crowley takes over from retired Johnny Sexton at fly-half with Peter O’Mahony having been appointed as the new captain earlier this month.

Farrell has opted for a 6-2 as opposed to 5-3 forwards and backs split on the bench given the power of the France pack.

In addition to Crowley’s inclusion, the starting side has three further changes from the World Cup quarter-final defeat by New Zealand with Nash, Henshaw and McCarthy taking over from Hansen, Ringrose and Henderson.

Farrell said that Friday’s game was coming “a little too soon” for Ringrose, who had appeared one of the candidates to succeed Sexton as skipper.

“He’s into rehab,” said Farrell, who was speaking at Ireland’s training base in Portugal before the team’s departure for France.

“Hopefully it’s not too long of an injury and he’s back for the next game.”

Asked about McCarthy’s selection, Farrell described the Leinster second row as a “young fellow on a mission”.

“He’s there to take his chance and his opportunity when he can. He tends to do that most days.”

McCarthy started in Ireland’s opening World Cup win over Romania in September and also came on as a second-half replacement in the heart-breaking quarter-final defeat by New Zealand in France.

Farrell described Nash’s selection as reward for “going away and working” after learning what was required on his previous camp before the World Cup.

“His work off the ball and with ball in hand and finding a way to make a difference, and be that extra link in attack, has really come on in leaps and bounds.”