Ulster's Rory Best, Iain Henderson and Jared Payne will start in Ireland's opening game of the Rugby World Cup, against Canada. The game will see Henderson and Payne make their World Cup debuts, while Ulster captain, Rory Best, will play his eight match in the competition. Ulster flanker, Chris Henry, is named as a replacement for the game. Paul O'Connell captains the side from the second row and is partnered by Henderson. The back row is made up of Jamie Heaslip at No.8, Sean O'Brien at open-side and Peter O'Mahony on the blind-side. In the front row, Best is flanked by Mike Ross and Jack McGrath. Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton line out at halfback with Luke Fitzgerald and Payne paired in the centre. The back three is made up on Dave Kearney and Keith Earls on the wings with Rob Kearney at full-back. The replacements are Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Simon Zebo. IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Canada, 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D, Millennium Stadium, Saturday, September 19, kick-off 2.30pm): 15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 12. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster) 11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) (capt) 6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)  Replacements:  16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 18. Nathan White (Connacht) 19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 23. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
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Best, Henderson and Payne start for Ireland
17th September 2015
Ulster's Rory Best, Iain Henderson and Jared Payne will start in Ireland's opening game of the Rugby World Cup, against Canada. The game will see Henderson and Payne make their World Cup debuts, while Ulster captain, Rory Best, will play his eight match in the competition. Ulster flanker, Chris Henry, is named as a replacement for the game. Paul O'Connell captains the side from the second row and is partnered by Henderson. The back row is made up of Jamie Heaslip at No.8, Sean O'Brien at open-side and Peter O'Mahony on the blind-side. In the front row, Best is flanked by Mike Ross and Jack McGrath. Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton line out at halfback with Luke Fitzgerald and Payne paired in the centre. The back three is made up on Dave Kearney and Keith Earls on the wings with Rob Kearney at full-back. The replacements are Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Simon Zebo. IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Canada, 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D, Millennium Stadium, Saturday, September 19, kick-off 2.30pm): 15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 12. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster) 11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) (capt) 6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)  Replacements:  16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 18. Nathan White (Connacht) 19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 23. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)