Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has made 11 changes to his starting lineup for their must-win pool clash with Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday.
Despite fears that typhoon Hagibis could make landfall in Fukuoka on Saturday, this game will go ahead as planned.
Schmidt has now brought back his first-choice players after fielding a second-string XV in Ireland’s previous match against Russia.
In the backline, Robbie Henshaw returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Ireland’s pre-tournament win over Wales and will partner Bundee Aki in midfield. Jordan Larmour is back at fullback, Jacob Stockdale starts on the wing and Conor Murray reclaims the No 9 jersey.
Up front, Tadhg Beirne is the sole survivor in the starting team, but moves from lock to flank to form an all-new back-row partnership with CJ Stander and Josh van der Flier.
James Ryan and Iain Henderson come in as the starting locks, while props Tadhg Furlong and Cain Healy and captain Rory Best resume their front-row partnership after being rested against Russia.
Ireland – 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Cain Healy.
Subs: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Andrew Conway.
Photo: Irish Rugby/Inpho/Dan Sheridan
