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.

Furlong not being available meant an unexpected change to the Ireland pack that had played in the wins autumn series 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 GibsonPark, Hugo Keenan at fullback and Mack Hansen on the other wing.

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

The terms of Brady’s deal with Fox Sports were not disclosed, but media reports said it is worth hundreds of millions of dollars himself and not clamouring for attention could take time.

“It’s going to be a challenge. Tom is a pretty serious guy, at least in terms of his public persona,” Neal

Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports television consulting company, told Reuters.

“He’s going to be getting a tremendous amount of money from Fox and I think he’s going to feel the pressure of entertaining people, and up to now Tom’s method of entertaining people was to play quarterback, show how good he is.”

The terms of Brady’s deal with Fox Sports were never disclosed but media reports said the former quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots agreed to a 10-year contract worth $375 million.

Fox will be broadcasting the February 12 Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs but the network did not immediately reply when asked by Reuters whether Brady would be part of the lineup.

Pilson suggests it would be better for Brady if his analyst debut did not come at the Super Bowl as that would expose him right away during the most-watched NFL game of the year.

• Must be willing to work on weekends, holidays and at nights as required

• Minimum of 2 years working experience

• Knowledge of computer software

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