Ireland will be without captain and flyhalf Johnny Sexton for the crucial Six Nations clash with France in Paris on Saturday.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell on Thursday named the match-day 23 to face France, but Sexton was not available for selection due to a hamstring injury.

In the 36-year-old playmaker’s absence, lock James Ryan will captain Ireland, while Munster flyhalf Joey Carbury gets a long-awaited opportunity to prove himself in the starting lineup.

On the plus side for Ireland, they have been boosted by the return to fitness of British & Irish Lions duo Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw. Both players have been named on the bench.

Farrell has otherwise stuck with the same squad that claimed a convincing victory over Wales in the opening round of the Six Nations.

Saturday’s match at the Stade de France could be a decisive one for the championship, as France have also been billed as title favourites.

Ireland – 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Joey Carbury, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Subs: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images