Six Nations 2023: Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong replaced by Finlay Bealham

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff and replaced by Finlay Bealham.

Leinster tighthead Furlong has been suffering with ankle and calf injuries in recent weeks.

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey retains his place in Andy Farrell's side, with Bundee Aki named on the bench.

Farrell's two other changes see captain Johnny Sexton coming in at fly-half and James Lowe starting on the wing.

Jack Crowley and Jimmy O'Brien drop out of the team that beat Australia in November.

Farrell said Furlong was "not quite ready" but is hopeful he will be back in contention to face France next weekend.

His omission meant an unexpected change to the Ireland pack that had played in the autumn series wins over South Africa, Fiji and and the Wallabies.

McCloskey is continuing to fill the void left by the experienced Robbie Henshaw, out with a wrist injury, and is joined in midfield by Garry Ringrose. It will be a first appearance in the championship for the Ulster centre since his Test debut seven years ago.

Captain Sexton, who pulled out of the win over Australia in Dublin minutes before kick-off with a thigh injury, is fit to lead the side after training on Wednesday without a face mask for the first time since having cheekbone surgery last month.

Leinster wing Lowe makes his return after having to sit out the November series because of a calf injury. He takes his place in an expected backline that includes Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan at full-back and Mack Hansen on the other wing.

Bealham 'deserves it' - Farrell

"Finlay deserves it," said Farrell of a 31-year-old who has won 23 of his 27 international caps as a replacement.

"He's playing very well, last time out he scored a hat-trick [of tries for Connacht against Newcastle Falcons in the Challenge Cup]. He's scrummaging very well, so he deserves a start."

Furlong's absence means uncapped Munster prop Roman Salanoa will link up with the Ireland squad in Cardiff as additional cover.

Hawaii native and former high school American Footballer Salanoa has impressed since joining Munster from Leinster in 2020 after arriving in Ireland in 2017.

Australia-born Bealham will pack down in the front row with fellow prop Andrew Porter, with hooker Dan Sheehan between them.

Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan are the lock pairing, while Caelan Doris is at number eight, and Josh van der Flier and Peter O'Mahony on either flank.

Tom O'Toole will provide front-row cover from an Ireland bench that, as well as Aki, includes experienced scrum-half Conor Murray and Ulster captain Iain Henderson, with Ross Byrne the covering fly-half.

Ireland have not won a Six Nations match at Cardiff's Principality Stadium since 2013.

Former Former Ireland head coach Warren Gatland, meanwhile, has been forced into a late change to his Wales side for what will be the first game of his second spell in charge of the country.

Thirty-four-year-old full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who was set to make his first international start for 19 months, suffered a back spasm in training and is replaced in the team by Liam Williams.

As his captain did on Wednesday, Farrell also dismissed Gatland's notion that this was a "free shot" for Wales as they were heavy underdogs against the number-one-ranked Irish.

"There's no free shot in test rugby. Maybe I'll buy him a free shot after the game," Farrell said.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; Beirne, Ryan; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Byrne, Aki.

Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, North, Hawkins, Dyer; Biggar, T Williams; G Thomas, Owens (capt), Francis, Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Morgan, Tipuric, Faletau.

Replacements: Baldwin, Carre, Lewis, Jenkins, Reffell, Webb, O Williams, Cuthbert.