Captain Sexton returns from suspension to boost Ireland

Ireland has received a major boost after star flyhalf and captain Johnathan Sexton returned from his three-match suspension and will start against Romania in their Rugby World Cup opener this weekend.

Sexton has served a three-match suspension for aggressive behaviour towards match officials at Leinster’s loss to La Rochelle in the European Cup final in May and comes straight back into the starting line up for Sunday’s match.

However, they will be missing three forwards because of injury and they are hooker Dan Sheehan, back-rower Jack Conan and prop Dave Kilcoyne.

Joe McCarthy is one of six in the team making a World Cup debut and slots into the second row, with Tadhg Beirne starting at No. 6.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jonathan Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong, Ron Herring, Andrew Porter.

Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Robbie Henshaw.

Ireland will take on Romania at 1.30am in Bordeaux.

Source: Roar Rugby.