Injuries are hitting us hard, and it's not made a slight bit of difference.

In previous years the idea of us losing out outside centre and fullback in the week leading up to a major World Cup game could have brought on the alarm bells, but such is the depth and quality of this squad, that our backline looks as strong as ever.

Rob Kearney's injury obviously came as a blow, but following Simon Zebo's magnificent display last weekend, the fullback position has lost nothing in the way of creativity, while Jared Payne's omission has not only given Keith Earls the chance to re-create his form on the wing to the no.13 slot, but it ensures that the squads top three try scorers all line up in the starting team, with places not available for both Tommy Bowe and Dave Kearney on the wings.

Robbie Henshaw comes back into the side following his hamstring injury, with the rest of the side all but picking itself. The IRFU's insistence on releasing the team via their Twitter handles means we've gone and wrote out the side underneath for those of your not up-to-date on the entire side's social media pages. We're sound like that.

Forwards:
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Henderson
5. O’Connell (capt)
6. O’Mahony
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip

 

Backs:
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. D. Kearney
12. Henshaw
13. Earls
14. Bowe
15. Zebo