Sexton In Line For First Cap

Jonathan Sexton will make his international debut for Ireland against Fiji this weekend…

The Leinster fly-half is one of 8 changes to the side that drew with Australia on Sunday, he partners his provincial teammate Eoin Reddan at half-back…

Rob Kearney retains his place at full back, while Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy and Keith Earls also come into the back line.

Up front Tom Court joins John Hayes and Jerry Flannery in the front row, while Leo Cullen and Denis Leamy are also brought into the pack…

15 – Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 – Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)*
9 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

1 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 – John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 – Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
17 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)*
20 – Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
21 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
22 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.