Cian Healy named in Ireland team to face Romania
Last Updated: 26/09/15 3:18pm
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has made wholesale changes to his starting line-up for Sunday's Rugby World Cup Pool D meeting with Romania at Wembley.
Just three players remain from the side that started last weekend's 50-7 victory over Canada, with Jared Payne and Keith Earls continuing at outside centre and wing respectively and Jamie Heaslip named as captain.
Cian Healy makes his first international start since the Six Nations win over Scotland last March.
The Leinster loosehead, who made his return from neck surgery against Canada, packs down alongside provincial team-mate Richardt Strauss and Nathan White.
Ian Madigan has gotten the nod at fly-half ahead of Paddy Jackson, who is named on the bench as Jonny Sexton is rested, while Eoin Reddan swaps places with Conor Murray.
Ulster duo Payne and Darren Cave are named in midfield, with the injured Robbie Henshaw again missing out. Tommy Bowe returns on the wing and Simon Zebo is named at full-back.
He is fully running now and we just felt we'd rather not push ahead. Soft tissue injuries can be quite complicated.
Joe Schmidt on Robbie Henshaw
Donnacha Ryan and Devin Toner form the second row partnership with Jordi Murphy and Chris Henry selected alongside Heaslip in the back row.
Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney are named on a strong replacements bench.
Schmidt revealed he did not want to risk Henshaw, who has a hamstring problem, but is confident he will be ready to face Italy next weekend.
"It was just that at the start of the week we felt we had to take it a little bit easier than we first thought with Robbie," said Schmidt.
"He is fully running now and we just felt we'd rather not push ahead. Soft tissue injuries can be quite complicated.
"If you get a re-injury on the same site then you are in a situation where his World Cup could be in doubt. So we've taken no risk. There are times to take risks but this is a great opportunity for Darren Cave."
Meanwhile, lock Ovidiu Tonita will equal the Romania record of 14 World Cup appearances when he lines up against Ireland.
Tonita steps up from the bench in one of eight changes made by coach Lynn Howells to the starting XV that lost 38-11 to France in their Pool D opener on Wednesday.
Tonita has played in all Romania's last 13 matches in the tournament going back to 2003.
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Darren Cave, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Cian Healy, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Nathan White, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 Jordi Murphy, 7 Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip (c).
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Paul O'Connell, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Rob Kearney.
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Adrian Apostol, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Csaba Gal, 11 Ionut Botezatu, 10- Michael Wiringi, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu; 1 Andrei Ursache, 2 Andrei Radoi, 3 Paulica Ion, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 5 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Viorel Lucaci, 7 Mihai Macovei (c), 8 Daniel Carpo.
Replacements: 16 Mihaita Lazar, 17 Otar Turashvili, 18 Alexandru Tarus, 19 Johannes van Heerden, 20 Stelian Burcea, 21 Florin Surugiu, 22 Florin Ionita, 23 Florin Vlaicu.
