Schmidt Names Side For RWC Opener

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt has named his side for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool D opener with Canada on Saturday and includes five Munster players in his matchday 23. Kick-off is at 2.30pm in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

In a side that is captained by Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony starts at 6 with Conor Murray recovering from a concussion sustained against England almost a fortnight ago to start at scrum-half.

Keith Earls starts on the left wing with Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo named amongst the replacements.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Canada, 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D, Millennium Stadium, Saturday, September 19, kick-off 2.30pm):

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) (capt)
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)