Sexton returns to captain Ireland against Romania

Johnny Sexton will play his first competitive match since March when he starts against Romania on Saturday in Ireland's opening match of the World Cup.

Sexton is set to make his first appearance for club or country since Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam-winning match against England after being named at fly-half.

The Ireland captain is just 34 points away from surpassing Ronan O’Gara (1,083) as Ireland’s top points scorer in test rugby.

Elsewhere Bundee Aki wins his 50th international cap alongside Garry Ringrose.

Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and Dave Kilcoyne have all been ruled out as they recover from foot injuries in the case of Sheehan and Conan, and Kilcoyne tries to overcome a hamstring issue.

Ireland XV

1. Andrew Porter

2. Rob Herring

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Joe McCarthy

5. James Ryan

6. Tadhg Beirne

7. Peter O'Mahony

8. Caelan Doris

9. Jamison Gibson-Park

10. Johnny Sexton (captain)

11. James Lowe

12. Bundee Ali

13. Garry Ringrose

14. Keith Earls

15. Hugo Keenan

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher

17. Jeremy Loughman

18. Tom O'Toole

19. Iain Henderson

20. Josh van der Flier

21. Conor Murray

22. Jack Crowley

23. Robbie Henshaw