DEVIN Toner will slot in at lock while Keith Earls will start at outside centre for Ireland against France on Sunday, with coach Joe Schmidt having named his team.
The crucial encounter at the Millennium Stadium will decide who tops the pool and will determine each side’s quarter-final opponent, both having already qualified with three wins from three.
Although he was initially thought to be fit, Jared Payne is Ireland’s only absentee through injury.
In the No.13 role, Earls will be handed the pivotal task of disrupting France’s Mathieu Bastareaud, who looks set to target Ireland’s playmaker Johnny Sexton.
With Toner earning a start after impressing from the bench against Italy last time out, Iain Henderson drops to the bench.
Here's the team for #FRAvIRE in #RWC2015 #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/sQGPJTiNzb
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 9, 2015
Ireland team to face France:
R Kearney, T Bowe, K Earls, R Henshaw, D Kearney, J Sexton, C Murray, C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D Toner, P O'Connell (captain), P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Strauss, J McGrath, N White, I Henderson, C Henry, E Reddan, I Madigan, L Fitzgerald.
