Sexton and Murray start as Farrell names strong squad for Tonga test

Conor Murray comes into the side to partner Johnny Sexton in the half-backs, while Mack Hansen replaces Keith Earls on the right wing.

10-12 AXIS: Forwards coach Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton and Bundee Aki. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Johnny Sexton will lead Ireland once again when they make their second World Cup appearance on Saturday night with a pool game against Tonga.

The Ireland captain was retained at fly-half for the Pool B clash at Stade de la Beaujoire as Andy Farrell on Thursday named another strong side following an opening weekend 82-8 victory over Romania in Bordeaux.

Sexton, 38, played his first rugby for six months following injury and suspension in the bonus-point win. In doing so he became Ireland’s oldest player and equalled David Humphreys’ Irish World Cup record points tally for a single game. 

Sexton’s 24-point total from two tries and seven conversions matched Humphreys’ performance against Argentina in 1999 and also left him needing just nine points this Saturday to surpass Ronan O’Gara’s Irish-record 1083 points in all Tests.

The captain will have fellow test centurion Conor Murray alongside him in the half-backs, who comes off the bench to replace Jamison Gibson-Park, with Craig Casey moving onto the bench as back-up scrum-half ahead of a potential World Cup debut.

Murray is one of four personnel changes to the team which started against the Romanians in a 12-try hammering. 

Mack Hansen comes onto the right wing in place of Keith Earls who drops out of the matchday 23, while the other two switches come in the forward pack with Ronan Kelleher starting at hooker as Rob Herring moves to the bench, while Josh van der Flier is returned to openside flanker.

Peter O’Mahony moves across the back row to blindside as Tadhg Beirne vacates the number six jersey to return to the second-row.

There is still no return for first-choice hooker Dan Sheehan as he continues his comeback from a foot injury sustained against England in August with No.8 Jack Conan also absent with a similar problem having been ruled out earlier in the week.

On the bench, there is an opportunity for props Dave Kilcoyne, back from a hamstring problem, and potential World Cup debutant Finlay Bealham to make their first appearances of the tournament, likewise back-row replacement Ryan Baird, another waiting for his World Cup debut.

Sexton’s cover as fly-half will be Ross Byrne while Robbie Henshaw, who was withdrawn from last weekend’s matchday squad as a precaution, is the outside back replacement.

Ireland: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Lowe; J Sexton, C Murray; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong; T Beirne, J Ryan; P O’Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris. 

Replacements: R Herring, D Kilcoyne, F Bealham, I Henderson, R Baird, C Casey, R Byrne, R Henshaw.