All change for Ireland against Canada

As expected Irish coach Joe Schmidt has changed his entire starting XV for the match to play Canada in Dublin on Saturday. Only five players who took part in the historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago are named. Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, and Finlay Bealham move into the run-on side while second row Donnacha Ryan and young flyhalf Joey Carbery are among the reserves.

Headlining the team are stand-in captain Peter O’Mahony and rampaging flanker Sean O’Brien, both of whom were rested for the New Zealand match as precaution. The duo are typically seen in the full strength Irish side and will be keen to put down a marker for selection ahead of the All Blacks rematch in Dublin next week. O’Brien and Healy are joined by winger Keith Earls giving the side three British & Irish Lions tourists.

New caps include veteran Munster forward Billy Holland, former Ireland u20 captain Jack O’Donoghue, and highly touted Leinster midfielder Garry Ringrose. The latter was on the bench in Chicago but did not see the field. Others set to debut from the bench include hooker James Tracy, tighthead prop John Ryan, flanker Dan Leavy, Canadian-born scrumhalf Luke McGrath, and Nigerian-born winger Niyi Adeolokun.

The match kicks off at 7:15pm local time, 2:15pm Eastern, and will be broadcast live on the CBC.

IRELAND
1 Cian Healy 2 Sean Cronin 3 Finlay Bealham 4 Ultan Dillane 5 Billy Holland 6 Peter O’Mahony (capt.) 7 Sean O’Brien 8 Jack O’Donoghue 9 Kieran Marmion 10 Paddy Jackson 11 Keith Earls 12 Luke Marshall 13 Garry Ringrose 14 Craig Gilroy 15 Tiernan O’Halloran

16 James Tracy 17 David Kilcoyne 18 John Ryan 19 Donnacha Ryan 20 Dan Leavy 21 Luke McGrath 22 Joey Carbery 23 Niyi Adeolokun