Robbie Henshaw will miss Ireland's Rugby World Cup opener against Canada at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The Connacht star picked up a hamstring injury in training during the week. Joe Schmidt says Henshaw can walk and run, but acceleration is a risk. The Irish coach hopes he will recover for next week's game against Romania.
Luke Fitzgerald has been called on to partner Jared Payne in the centre. Tommy Bowe misses out on a place on the wings, with Dave Kearney wearing the number 14 shirt and Keith Earls in 11. Iain Henderson joins captain Paul O'Connell in the second row. Donnacha Ryan provides coverage on the bench so there is no place in the squad for Devin Toner. Jack McGrath retains the Number 1 shirt, with Cian Healy continuing his return from neck surgery with a place among the substitutes.
McGrath, Henderson, Fitzgerald, Payne, Dave Kearney and Peter O'Mahony will all be making their first appearance at the World Cup.
The team in full is..
Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Jared Payne, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Iain Henderson, Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Simon Zebo.
