Ireland must do without the experience of Rob Kearney and Keith Earls in their back three for the Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland after the pair ran out of time to prove their fitness on Friday.
Munster’s Andrew Conway will take the place of Ireland’s record World Cup try scorer Earls on the wing while Leinster’s 22-year-old flyer Jordan Larmour comes in for Kearney, who was set to start in his third World Cup.
With 170 caps between the injured duo and influential centre Robbie Henshaw already ruled out, the Johnny Sexton-marshalled Irish backline will feature five World Cup debutants in Sunday’s Pool A clash.
Kearney and Earls had mostly overcome their respective calf and knee issues, however, according to coach Joe Schmidt, suggesting the two will be fit along with recovering replacement five-eighth Joey Carbery for the next game against hosts Japan.
In the pack, Schmidt opted for a back row of Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Josh van der Flier while Iain Henderson won what Schmidt described as a long selection discussion to partner James Ryan at lock.
While still relatively young at 27, the 48 caps the Ulsterman has already racked up, together with his experience in big games at the last World Cup, gave him the edge over new boy Jean Kleyn.
With the potential for Friday’s sunshine in Yokohama to turn showery by Sunday and spoil Scotland’s fondness for throwing the ball around, Schmidt insisted that Ireland had as much to fear from the Scots kicking game if things get slippery.
“I don’t think there’s too much between the teams, wet or dry,” he said.
Ireland:
Jordan Larmour, Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy. Res: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Jack Carty, Chris Farrell.