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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Will Macpherson

Six Nations: Blow for Ireland as Johnny Sexton ruled out of crucial France meeting

Ireland will be without their captain Johnny Sexton for their crunch Six Nations clash against France in Paris this weekend.

Sexton, 36, misses out with a hamstring injury. James Ryan takes over as skipper, while Joey Carberry comes in at fly-half for his first Six Nations start in place of Sexton, who has so much influence over the way Ireland play.

That is the only change to Ireland’s starting XV, but Iain Henderson, Jack Carty and Robbie Henshaw come onto the bench.

Ireland got off to an outstanding start to the campaign last weekend, beating Wales 29-7 and picking up a bonus point in the process.

France also secured an opening round bonus point win, over Italy, and this fixture headlines a fascinating weekend of Six Nations action.

France have made two changes of their own, with Yoram Moefana coming into the centre in place of the injured Jonathan Danty for his first Six Nations start, and François Cros preferred to Dylan Cretin in the back row. France have opted for a 6-2 bench.

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