Boost for Ireland as Iain Henderson returns to Andy Farrell’s second-row assist for the Twickenham clash

Iain Henderson has returned to the Ireland squad to bolster Andy Farrell’s second-row picks ahead of Saturday’s trip to Twickenham.

enderson missed the recent Six Nations win over Italy due to Covid, but captain Ulster played 80 minutes for his province last Friday.

The lock was part of a group of 35 who regrouped on Sunday night, with Unlocked Munster supporter Jeremy Loughman earning the first call.

Loughman was drafted as a loose cover amid Andrew Porter’s exclusion from the rest of the league due to injury.

Porter’s Leinster teammate Jordan Larmour also suffered the same fate after suffering a hip problem during his win over Benetton on Saturday.

Although Jimmy O’Brien has been training with Ireland recently, the underrated all-round return Leinster will not be joining the team this week.

Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, James Hume and Nick Timoney (Ulster) all return to the Ireland squad after a game against their respective provinces at the weekend.

Ireland Team Round 4 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championship

Back side (16)

Bundee Aki (Connacht / Galwegians) 35 caps

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster / Enniskillen) 2 caps

Joey Carbery (Munster / Clontarf) 30 caps

Jack Carty (Buccaneers / Connacht) 11 caps

Craig Casey (Munster / Shannon) 5 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster / Garryowen) 29 caps

Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 15 caps

Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 times

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster / Buccaneers) 55 caps

James Hume (Ulster / Banbridge) 3 caps

Hugo Keenan (Leinster / UCD) 18 caps

James Lowe (Leinster) 10 caps

Michael Lowry (Ulster / Banbridge) 1 hat

Conor Murray (Munster / Garryowen) 94 caps

Garry Ringrose (Leinster / UCD) 40 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster / St Mary’s College) 103 caps for CAPTAIN

Striker (19)

Ryan Baird (Leinster / University Dublin) 8 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht / Buccaneers) 21 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster / Lansdowne) 28 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster / Old Belvedere) 25 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster / Young Munster) 2 times

Caelan Doris (Leinster / St Mary’s College) 15 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster / Clontarf) 55 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster / Clontarf) 114 caps

Dave Heffernan (Connacht / Buccaneers) 6 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster / Academy) 66 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster / Ballynahinch) 24 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster / UL Bohemians) 46 caps

Jeremy Loughman (Munster / Garryowen) is opened

Peter O’Mahony (Munster / Cork Constitution) 82 caps

James Ryan (Leinster / UCD) 42 caps

Dan Sheehan (Leinster / Lansdowne) 5 caps

Nick Timoney (Ulster / Banbridge) 2 times

Kieran Treadwell (Ulster / Ballymena) 4 caps

Josh van der Flier (Leinster / UCD) 38 caps