Four Munster rugby players named to start for Ireland in final World Cup warm-up game

IRELAND head coach Andy Farrell has named his match day squad for the last World Cup warmup game against Samoa at the Stade Jean-Dauger, in Bayonne, France.

The match will be streamed live on RTÉ 2 from 7:15pm on this weekend, August 26, with kick-off at 7:45pm Irish time. 

Keith Earls, fresh off winning his 100th cap for Ireland, starts on the wing while Munster teammates Connor Murray and Jack Crowley line-out at nine and ten. 

Tadhg Berine is the final Munster player that will start the game against Samoa while Jeremy Loughman, Peter O'Mahony and Craig Casey are among the replacements. 

Ian Henderson returns to the second row to captain the side having done so against Italy in Dublin at the start of the month.

Jimmy O’Brien, Mack Hansen and Keith Earls make up the back three with Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey in midfield.

In the pack, Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham are selected either side of Tom Stewart, who is set for his first Ireland start having made his debut off the bench against Italy.

Henderson partners Tadhg Beirne in the engine room, with Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris completing the starting XV.

This will be the last opportunity for players on the fringes of the squad to stake their claim as the World Cup squad is set to be named on next Monday. 

Ireland (v Samoa):

(Province/Club/Caps)

15. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas)(6)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)(15)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)(64)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)(13)
11. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)(100)
10. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)(5)
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)(106)

1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)(124)
2. Tom Stewart (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(1)
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(31)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)(captain)(73)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(40)
6. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)(12)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(51)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(30)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(36)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen)(2)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(10)
19. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(54)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(95)
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)(11)
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)(20)
23. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(51).