Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland against Samoa on Saturday - but Paul O'Connell will be Joe Schmidt's full-time skipper. Number eight Heaslip will lead Ireland this weekend because O'Connell hasn't recovered from a calf problem to start the match but he does take a seat on the bench. Paddy Jackson will start at fly-half, with Jonathan Sexton not named in the squad. Sexton sat out a midweek training session after aggravating a hip injury while goal-kicking. The 28-year-old was an unused replacement for Racing Metro's defeat to Biarritz last Saturday. Former Leinster playmaker Sexton complained of a stiff hip that day, and has now been omitted entirely from Schmidt's first matchday 23 as Ireland boss.
Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy start in the centres - meaning the midfield duo will rack up a combined 200 caps when they step out at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Leinster front-rower Jack McGrath will win his first cap at loosehead prop against the Samoans. The 24-year-old was called up to the Emerging Ireland squad to play in May's Tbilisi Cup while Schmidt has also named versatile Leinster back-three Dave Kearney on the bench, who will win his first cap if he takes the field. Kearney could even line up alongside brother and starting full-back Rob, if he comes on at wing.
Ireland team to play Samoa: R Kearney, T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, F McFadden, P Jackson, C Murray, J McGrath, R Best, M Ross, M McCarthy, D Toner, Peter O'Mahony, C Henry, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: S Cronin, C Healy, D Fitzpatrick, P O'Connell, S O'Brien, E Reddan, I Madigan, D Kearney.
