Sexton fit to face All Blacks

Jonathan Sexton has recovered from his hamstring injury in time to face New Zealand in Ireland’s final Guinness Series autumn international on Sunday.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told the 28-year-old fly-half he had to train fully in Friday’s session to warrant selection for the daunting test of hosting the world champions, who are unbeaten in 2013.

And the Racing Metro player has come through that challenge, to retain his starting berth after limping out of Ireland’s 32-15 Australia defeat at half-time last weekend.

Former captain Brian O’Driscoll has beaten his continuing calf trouble to line up in midfield, where he will equal Ronan O’Gara’s all-time Ireland caps record of 128.

Full-back Rob Kearney is fit to start after a rib problem too, while Gordon D’Arcy is recalled in midfield at the expense of Ulster centre Luke Marshall.

Healy, Best and Ross are the front row with O'Connell and Toner in the second row and O'Mahony, O'Brien and Heaslip in the back row.

Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Declan Fitzpatrick, Mike McCarthy, Kevin McLaughlin, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan and Luke Fitzgerald are on the bench.

Ireland (v New Zealand): R Kearney, Bowe, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best, Ross, Toner, O'Connell (capt), O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip