Sexton and Earls return for Schmidt's final home game
Ireland head-coach Joe Schmidt has named a strong side ahead of Saturday's World Cup warm-up game against Grand Slam winners Wales at the Aviva Stadium.
Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, and Johnny Sexton have been included in the starting XV and will get their first game time of this pre-season while Cian Healy has recovered from the ankle issue he picked up in the defeat to England.
Leinster out-half Sexton, who suffered a thumb injury in training at the start of the summer, is joined in the half backs by Conor Murray.
Earls has recovered from knee tendonitis to start on the wing with Rob Kearney and Jordan Larmour completing the back three.
Henshaw is paired with his former Connacht teammate Bundee Aki in midfield.
Rory Best captains the side from hooker with Tadhg Furlong and Healy the props.
James Ryan and Jean Kleyn are in the second-row with CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan in the back-row.
Joey Carbery is not among the replacements, with Jack Carty the back-up to Sexton.
#TeamOfUs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) September 5, 2019
Here's the Ireland team to play Wales in @AVIVAStadium on Saturday. #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvWAL pic.twitter.com/2pf5tIBzsP
15. Rob Kearney
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Keith Earls
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best CAPTAIN
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Jean Kleyn
6. CJ Stander
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
16. Sean Cronin
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Iain Henderson
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Luke McGrath
22. Jack Carty
23. Garry Ringrose
