Ulster flanker Chris Henry returns to Ireland ranks after illness
Thursday 28 May 2015 10:57, UK
Chris Henry will make his first appearance for Ireland since suffering a mini-stroke in November when he starts in Thursday's clash with the Barbarians.
The 30-year-old flanker returned to Ulster action in March, and now has the chance to stake his World Cup claim against the Baa-Baas at Thomond Park in Limerick.
Henry joins captain Jamie Heaslip in a strong Ireland side for the non-cap international, with Leinster's uncapped 24-year-old centre Colm O'Shea making his senior bow.
Ireland are without their Munster contingent - Paul O'Connell and company are gearing up for Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final against Glasgow at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium.
Dan Tuohy partners Devin Toner in the lock cordon in talisman O'Connell's absence, while Ian Madigan starts at fly-half, preferred to Ulster's Paddy Jackson.
Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong joins O'Shea as the second uncapped player in the starting line-up, with three more on the bench.
Ulster flanker Henry underwent a procedure to repair a defect in his heart wall in November, after being taken ill in the build-up to Ireland's autumn international Test clash with South Africa.
Henry suffered "a temporary blockage of a small blood vessel in his brain" on the morning of Ireland's Springboks clash on November 8.
The 16-cap back-row forward has made a full recovery, however, returning to top form in the latter half of Ulster's campaign which ended in PRO12 semi-final agony at the hands of Glasgow.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 D Kearney 13 Colm O'Shea, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Madigan 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Richard Strauss, 3 Tadgh Furlong, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Dan Tuohy, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Jamie Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Cian Kelleher.
