Paul O'Connell has been named as captain of the Irish rugby team but hasn't been named in the starting team for this Saturday's match against Samoa in the Aviva Stadium. There is one debutant in the side as new Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has named a strong side for his first ever test match in Irish rugby's biggest job, with loosehead Jack McGrath named in the front row alongside Rory Best and Mike Ross. McGrath is one of nine Leinster players named in the team.

Schmidt's first fifteen sees Brian O'Driscoll renew his centre partnership with Gordon D'Arcy despite having played very limited rugby so far this season. There are six Lions in the starting team, with Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, O'Driscoll, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip and Rory Best all included. Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy are all included on the bench.

Jamie Heaslip has been named as vice captain of the team and will lead the team out this weekend in place of O'Connell. Ulster flyhalf Paddy Jackson, who has enjoyed a terrific season so far, takes the number ten shirt in Jonathan Sexton's absence in preference to Ian Madigan.

Speaking at this afternoon's press conference Joe Schmidt inferred that, while O'Connell is captain, Jamie Heaslip will have a very important role to play in the squad: "It was a tough decision", he said. "We've got a very good group. Two guys at the helm allows us to cover our bases."

Elsewhere, Fergus McFadden, Peter O'Mahony, Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy are all included in the starting fifteen.

Ireland will face the triple threat challenge of Samoa, Australia and New Zealand over the next three weeks. Tickets for the Samoa and Australia games are still available now.
 

Ireland starting XV to play Samoa at the Aviva Stadium at 5.45pm on Saturday 9th November.

15 - Rob Kearney (Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster)
11 - Fergus McFadden (Leinster)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Ulster)
9 - Conor Murray (Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (c) (Leinster)
7 - Chris Henry (Ulster)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
5 - Devin Toner (Leinster)
4 - Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
3 - Mike Ross (Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Ulster)
1 - Jack McGrath (Leinster)

Subs: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster).