Toner set to face All Blacks

Meath man Devin Toner has retained his place in the second row for Ireland for Sunday’s final November international against New Zealand at the Aviva.
The Moynalvey man who only had eight caps prior to this Winter series will start for the third game in a row following appearances against Samoa and Australia.
Manager Joe Schmidt has also named Jonathan Sexton to start at out-half, despite concerns about the Racing Metro man’s fitness after he pulled up with a hamstring problem before half time in Ireland’s 15-32 defeat to Australia.
He was not expected to be available earlier this week.
Conor Murray has been recalled to play alongside Sexton at scrum-half while Isaac Boss has been named the replacement scrum-half.
Rob Kearney has also been judged fit enough to start at full-back despite suffering a rib injury in the loss against the Wallabies while, as expected, Gordon D’Arcy is recalled at inside-centre to play alongside Brian O’Driscoll.
Dave Kearney has also been brought into the starting XV, taking the place of hand-injury victory Fergus McFadden on the left wing, while Tommy Bowe is retained on the right.
Schmidt has opted for an unchanged starting pack. Paul O’Connell will again captain the side from the second row, with Toner again alongside him.
The front-row trio of Mike Ross, Rory Best and Cian Healy will get the chance to redeem themselves after struggling to cope with the Australian scrum, while the back-row of Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip is also retained.
Ireland - R Kearney, T Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney, J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, P O’Connell (c), D Toner, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements - S Cronin, J McGrath, D Fitzpatrick, K McLaughlin, M McCarthy, I Boss, I Madigan, L Fitzgerald.

 

Fergal Lynch