Heaslip to captain Ireland against Samoa

Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland, despite being named vice-captain by new head coach Joe Schmidt, as new skipper Paul O’Connell is not fit enough to start the match.

If O’Connell comes in to the game from the bench, it will be his first Ireland appearance in 19 months.

Experienced centre pairing Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will both appear, clocking in a combined total of 200 Ireland caps. If O'connell appears, it will also be the first time he and O'Driscoll have played together since October 2011.

Leinster’s 24-year-old prop Jack McGrath will make his Ireland debut on Saturday., while Versatile Leinster man Dave Kearney could make his debut from the bench, and even line up alongside 46-cap older brother Rob, who starts at full-back.

The countries have met on just five occasions, with Ireland leading the series 4-1; Samoa’s have won just once, at Lansdowne Road on November 12, 1996, with a 40-25 scoreline.

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), F McFadden (Leinster); P Jackson (Ulster), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), M McCarthy (Leinster), D Toner (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), C Henry (Ulster), J Heaslip (Leinster, capt).

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), D Fitzpatrick (Ulster), P O’Connell (Munster), S O’Brien (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), I Madigan (Leinster), D Kearney (Leinster).

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia).