Robbie Henshaw to start in Ireland's Six Nations opener against France

Robbie Henshaw has been named in the Ireland team that will face France in their Six Nations opener in Marseille this Friday.

Henshaw will partner his former Connacht teammate Bundee Aki in midfield.

The game gets underway at 8pm Irish time on Friday, and will be shown live on Virgin Media One.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, the 30-year-old Athlone man said he was expecting a serious test on Friday night.

"It's one of the toughest games, playing France away. Definitely down in Marseille, it's going to be a new challenge for everyone. A handful of us played there before, it's an intense environment," he said.

"France, the force that they're going to bring out, we'll need to be at our best to deal with that environment and that team.

"Last week has been a good prep, leading into a shorter week this week. It's real positive from our end and we’re really excited to get going."

The Ireland team for Friday's game is as follows:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(36)

14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(1)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(67)

12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(52)

11. James Lowe (Leinster)(26)

10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(9)

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(30)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(59)

2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(21)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(72)

4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(5)

5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(46)

6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(101)

7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(57)

8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(36)

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(26)

17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(125)

18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(36)

19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(59)

20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(15)

21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(41)

22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(112)

23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(1).