Ireland team named for Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland
Jack Carty has been named in Ireland's match-day squad for the Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland on Sunday.
With a number of injuries in the Ireland camp, Carty is one of just three replacement backs in the Ireland squad along with Luke McGrath and Chris Farrell.
If Carty is introduced from the bench, it will mean a World Cup debut for the Athlone man which would be another significant milestone in the Connacht out-half's career.
Carty's selection on the squad is a very proud moment for his parents Ted and Susan, all his family and his home club, Buccaneers. From Barrymore in Athlone, Carty is a past pupil of Ballybay NS and Marist College.
The other Athlone man in the squad, Robbie Henshaw is not part of the match-day panel due to a hamstring injury. However, it's hoped that the Coosan native will be able to feature in the second Pool A match against hosts Japan on Saturday, September 28. The other teams in Ireland's pool are Russia and Samoa.
Ireland face Scotland in Yokohama Stadium on Sunday with kick-off at 8.45am, Irish time.
With Rob Kearney and Keith Earls recovering from injuries, eight members of Ireland's starting team are set to make their World Cup debuts. The only members of their backline to have played at this level before are vaunted half-back pairing, Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray.
Garry Ringrose is partnered by Bundee Aki in the centre, Jordan Larmour is selected at full-back, with Andrew Conway and Jacob Stockdale on the wings.
Turning to the pack, highly rated lock James Ryan and back row forwards Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander will also make their World Cup debuts. Appearing at his fourth World Cup, Rory Best will captain Ireland and he's joined in the front row by Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.
The eight players named in the replacements are all featuring at their first Rugby World Cup.
Meanwhile, defending champions New Zealand face South Africa tomorrow (Saturday, 10.45am) in the stand-out fixture of the opening round of games. The All Blacks and the Springboks are in Pool B and the winner of that pool will face the runners-up in Ireland's pool in the quarter-finals.
Ireland will be aiming to top Pool A in order to avoid the top team in Pool B - a victory over Scotland would be a major stepping stone towards that target.
Ireland Team & Replacements v Scotland
Rugby World Cup 2019, Pool A, Yokohama Stadium
15. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 16 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 15 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 24 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 20 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 21 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 84 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 74 caps
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 91 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 120 caps CAPTAIN
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 36 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 48 caps
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 19 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 59 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 19 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 33 caps
Replacements
16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 16 caps
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 31 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 8 caps
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 16 caps
21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 14 caps
22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 7 caps
23. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 7 caps