Toner picked to face Samoa

Moynalvey’s Devin Toner will earn his eighth cap for Ireland when he lines out for Joe Schmidt’s side in Saturday’s Guinness Series International against Samoa at Lansdowne Road.
The 27-year-old former North Kildare player won his first cap in Ireland’s 20-10 win over Samoa three years ago and he has been selected to start in the second row alongside his Leinster team mate Mike McCarthy.
New Ireland coach Schmidt will ask Jamie Heaslip to captain Ireland this weekend while Jonathan Sexton has been left out of the matchday squad.
Heaslip has been given the nod to continue as captain after leading Ireland during the last RBS 6 Nations but Paul O’Connell, named on the bench this weekend, has been named squad captain.
With a bruising encounter expected against Samoa and Tests against Australia and New Zealand to come in the next few weeks, the new Ireland head coach has also opted to keep a trio of big guns on the bench in the shape of O’Connell, Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien.
Racing Metro out-half Sexton, a key player under Schmidt during the pair’s time at Leinster, has been left out of the squad entirely with Paddy Jackson set to start at out-half and Ian Madigan to provide cover from the bench. Schmidt cited hip flexor tightness as a factor in the decision to leave him out, while Jackson got the nod over Madigan in part due to the continuity of game-time he has had with Ulster.
In the front row, Leinster’s Jack McGrath will win his first cap at loosehead prop with Rory Best to start at hooker, and Mike Ross named at tighthead prop.
Heaslip will captain the side from number eight, with Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and Chris Henry of Ulster the starting wing-forwards.
In the backline, Jackson will be partnered by Conor Murray at scrum-half.
The centre partnership is the familiar duo of Gordon D’Arcy and O’Driscoll, while Fergus McFadden and Tommy Bowe are named on the wings. Rob Kearney will start at full-back.
The bench includes Healy, O’Connell and O’Brien, with Declan Fitzpatrick and Sean Cronin the other forwards replacements. Leinster trio Eoin Reddan, Madigan and Dave Kearney will provide cover for the backline.
The squad includes 15 Leinster players, along with four from Ulster and three from Munster.
Ireland - R Kearney, T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, F McFadden, P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross, D Toner, M McCarthy, P O’Mahony, C Henry, J Heaslip. Replacements - S Cronin, C Healy, D Fitzpatrick, P O’Connell, S O’Brien, E Reddan, I Madigan, D Kearney.

 

Fergal Lynch