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| Reuters |
Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland's Six Nations opener against France on Friday while Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash will make their first starts in the tournament as part an otherwise experienced side.
Ringrose was struggling with a shoulder issue ahead of selection, the Irish Times reported on Wednesday. Leinster team mate Robbie Henshaw will partner Bundee Aki in the centre for what promises to be huge test of Ireland's title defence.
Crowley, the only one of the novice trio with any Six Nations experience with just three minutes against Italy last year, steps into the sizable boots of Johnny Sexton, who retired last year after a near unbroken 14-year run in the number 10 shirt.
While Nash's second cap comes as a result of a tournament-ending injury to Mack Hansen, McCarthy's fine club form and breakthrough at last year's World Cup put the big 22-year-old ahead of Leinster team mate James Ryan in the pecking order.
