'It's all in front of us': Settled in to camp, Ireland now look forward with relish

The World Cup kicks off on Friday with Andy Farrell's side taking on Romania a day later. 

NEXT STOP...: Johnny Sexton arrives for the Ireland Rugby World Cup 2023 welcome ceremony at Le Grand Théâtre de Tours in France. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

THE phony war is over, the pre-season preparations are complete and as Ireland begin their first World Cup match week at Stade de la Chambrerie today, Johnny Sexton is relieved his team-mates have negotiated a summer-long camp almost completely unscathed.

Ireland’s Pool B campaign at France 2023 gets underway this Saturday in Bordeaux against the group’s lowest-ranked nation, world number 19 Romania, with some injury concerns and having been forced to omit veteran front-rower Cian Healy at home following the calf injury that denied the loosehead prop a fourth World Cup finals appearance.