Johnny Sexton the only change for Ireland team to play France

Patrick McCarry

Andy Farrell is keeping faith in the men that got Ireland off to a winning start.

Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team to face France in Paris, this Saturday. He is rewarding the players that started with a win over Wales, while Johnny Sexton misses out due to a ‘hamstring strain’.

Joey Carbery comes into the team, while James Ryan will captain the team in Paris.

📋 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Presenting your Ireland Match Day 23 for Paris, captained by James Ryan! 👊#TeamOfUs | #FRAvIRE

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 10, 2022

Farrell has stuck with most of the same starting team that recorded a bonus-point victory over Wayne Pivac’s side, on the opening day of the 2022 Six Nations. Robbie Henshaw and Iain Henderson are fit again, but Farrell has rewarded those that delivered that 29-7 victory against last year’s champions.

Up against the side many have tipped to be champions this year, the Ireland coach has gone with the strongest side he has available.

Mack Hansen is set for his second Test cap at Stade de France. (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)

Johnny Sexton seeking improved performance

Despite the ease of Ireland’s opening weekend victory over the Welsh, captain Sexton is seeking improvements against a France side that also knocked over the All Blacks, last November. The Ireland skipper will, however, miss the game in Paris.

“It’s across the board,” he said earlier this week, before he was ruled out of the match against France. “There was lots of good stuff in one area of the game, say our defence, but there are a couple of moments we didn’t quite win.

“We’re always trying to win as many moments as we can. If you don’t you have to try learn from them. When the best teams win, they still learn and take the lessons from victory, and we did that in November really well off the back of the Japan game, the New Zealand game and I hope we’ll learn a lot having beaten Wales.

“We learned some hard lessons last year in the first two games, the big thing about that was we had two losses and everything to play for was gone. Now we have a win and it’s a lot nicer place to be when you’re learning.”

Andrew Conway, who scored two tries against Wales, commented, “It’s a massive challenge this weekend, it’s going to be a different animal altogether. It’s going to be way tougher.

“It’s probably one of the most exciting places to go in the world, France in Paris so we’re excited; we’re building. We had a good training session [on Tuesday] and we’ll put it all together tomorrow hopefully and be ready to go on Saturday.”

Ireland team to face France

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. Mack Hansen
10. Joey Carbery
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan