Breaking henshaw to make first six nations start

ROBBIE HENSHAW has been selected to make his Six Nations debut at the weekend.

The Coosan native, 21, was named in Joe Schmidt’s starting line-up to face Italy on Saturday (2.30pm), with live coverage of the match on RTE. Henshaw will play at inside-centre, No. 12.

Henshaw of Buccaneers and current mainstay of the Connacht team, impressed greatly for the Ireland senior side in the autumn international wins against rugby kingpins South Africa and Australia.

A son of Audrey and Tony Henshaw, Robbie’s rise to the senior ranks has been nothing short of phenomenal, and his selection for Saturday’s match means the talented player reaches another huge milestone in his career.

Jamie Heaslip missed the game due to a shoulder injury, while Jonathan Sexton is not included as he continues his recovery from injury.

Meanwhile, Buccaneers player Rory Moloney has been selected at open-side flanker for Ireland’s opening U20 Six Nations match against Italy tomorrow night in Biella, Piemonte (kick-off: 7pm).

Fellow Buccaneers player Cian Romaine, who was born in England but has strong family links in Ballyforan, is on the bench.

Glasson native Stephen McVeigh is also part of the squad for the Six Nations campaign, and will be hoping to feature for Ireland when they face France at Dubarry Park, Athlone next Friday week (7.05pm).

The Ireland senior starting team to face Italy in Saturday’s Six Nations opener is as follows:

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (capt., Young Munster/Munster)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Con/Munster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

 

Ireland U-20s v Italy 

15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster) *
14. Greg O'Shea (Shannon/Munster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) *
12. Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11. Jack Owens (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
10. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (capt) *

1. Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster) *
4. David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster) *
7. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht) *
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements:

16. Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster)
17. Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Jack Cullen (Shannon/Munster) *
22. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
23. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

* Denotes previously capped at this level