Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will this afternoon reveal his team to face France in Ireland’s crucial Rugby World Cup Pool D match on Sunday.
Ireland and France have both already qualified for the quarter-finals. The result of Sunday's match in Cardiff will determine which team will face Argentina or New Zealand in the next round. The winner will top Pool D and almost certainly play Argentina in the quarter-finals, with the loser facing the All Blacks.
The Ireland squad was given a clean bill of health during the week with Jared Payne and Rob Kearney, who missed last Sunday's 16-9 win over Italy, both available for selection.
Payne and Robbie Henshaw are expected to be paired in the centre positions, while Rob Kearney is likely to replace Simon Zebo at full-back.
Keith Earls, who became Ireland’s record try-scorer at World Cups when crossing against Italy, and Simon Zebo, are potential left wing selections with either Tommy Bowe or Dave Kearney set to start on the right.
In the forwards, Mike Ross and Rory Best are expected to play at tighthead and hooker, while Cian Healy may replace Jack McGrath at loosehead for his first start of the tournament.
Captain Paul O’Connell is likely to be partnered by Iain Henderson in the second row, though Devin Toner could also be in the reckoning to reclaim his starting jersey.
Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip are set to be retained as a back-row trio despite struggling against Italy, while Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton are expected to be named to start at scrum-half and out-half.
On the bench, Eoin Reddan and Iain Madigan are the probable replacement half-backs with Madigan offering additional cover at centre and full-back. Dave Kearney, Zebo or Bowe could take the third replacement position.
Nathan White, Sean Cronin, Healy or McGrath, Toner or Donnacha Ryan and Chris Henry are the probable forward replacements. depending on which players miss out on starting berths.
