Iain Henderson has been chosen to captain Ireland, in the absence of Jonathan Sexton, for the 2023 World Cup preparation match against Italy on Saturday in Dublin.
The second line of Ulster will honor his second selection as captain, having experienced the first in February 2021 against France during the Six Nations tournament.
He recovers the captaincy of Jonathan Sexton, suspended for the three matches of preparation for the Irish World Cup for “bad conduct” during the Champions Cup final lost at the end of May by Leinster against La Rochelle.
Forfeited on injury, Sexton had not participated in the match but had insulted the referee from the stands of Aviva Stadium.
For this first match of preparation for the 2023 World Cup, the Irish coach Andy Farrell also opted for a young hinge, associating Craig Casey and Jack Crowley.
But scrum-half Casey, 23, and fly-half Crowley, 22, know each other well as they play together in the Irish province of Munster.
Ireland will also face England and Samoa during its preparation before starting its World Cup against Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux.
Line-up of Ireland’s squad against Italy:
O’Brien – Earls, Henshaw, McCloskey, Stockdale – Crowley (o), Casey (m) – Conan, Doris, Baird – McCarthy, Henderson (cap.) – O’Toole, Herring, Kilcoyne
Remplaçants : Stewart, Healy, Furlong, Beirne, Prendergast, Blade, Frawley, Nash
Selector: Andy Farrell (ENG)
