Paul O’Connell has been named as Ireland captain by new Ireland coach Joe Schimdt. O’Connell, who will start on the bench this weekend against Samoa, will earn his 86th cap for this country.
Vice-captain Jamie Heaslip will lead Ireland in the opening Guinness Series fixture. (Kick off at 6.45pm)
Leinster loose-head prop Jack McGrath will earn his first senior cap against the powerful Samoans while Dave Kearney could also earn a first cap for Ireland as he starts on the bench.
There are six 2013 British and Irish Lions in the starting XV; Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip and Rory Best and a further three Lions tourists Cian Healy, Paul O’Connell and Sean O’Brien named among the replacements.
Highlights from today’s press conference can be viewed on IrishRugbyTV.
IRELAND Team & Replacements v Samoa, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Guinness Series,
Saturday, November 9th, kick-off 17.45 GMT
Player/Club/Province/Caps –
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 46
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 51
13. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 125
12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 73
11. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 19
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 4
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 19
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 57
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 8
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 16
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 7
4. Mike McCarthy (Leinster) 12
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 31
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 67
1. Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster)*
REPLACEMENTS
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 27
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 39
18. Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
19. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 85
20. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) 27
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 50
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 4
23. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
* Denotes uncapped player
