Henshaw ‘chomping at the bit’ to play Samoa

ROBBIE HENSHAW will make his first appearance at the World Cup in Saturday’s crunch Pool A meeting with Samoa in Fukuoka. Henshaw arrived in Japan in a rich vein of form after a tour de force against Wales in Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game in Dublin, but suffered a hamstring injury during one of the first training sessions in Chiba, just days after Ireland had landed in the country. Joe Schmidt opted to keep Henshaw in the squad and, after four weeks of rehabilitation, the Leinster centre will be unleashed on Samoa alongside his former Connacht team-mate Bundee Aki. ‘I have to say, it has been tough sitting in the stands watching the games,’ said the returning Leinster midfielder earlier this week. ‘I’m chomping at the bit really to get out and help the lads. It’s exciting for me. ‘There were a few sleepless nights, just over-thinking things — the ifs and buts. But once you see yourself improving and hitting those targets that you put down, that gives you the reassurance that you are coming good.’ Ireland’s first-choice halfback pairing of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray are reinstated but Rob Kearney misses out on this

weekend’s pivotal clash. It is understood that the veteran Leinster full-back was unable to train fully this week, meaning Jordan Larmour (right) will start in the backfield.

Larmour impressed at fullback in the 27-3 thumping of Scotland on the opening weekend and forms a potent back three alongside recalled Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls — who will be both be looking to break their try-scoring droughts at this tournament.

Rory Best will captain Ireland at hooker and is joined by the first-choice propping pairing of Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong. Iain Henderson and James Ryan will pack down at lock but Peter O’Mahony, who has started all three games thus far, will start on the bench this weekend. O’Mahony’s Munster teammate Tadhg Beirne will fill the void on the blindside flank alongside Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander in the backrow.

Ireland can guarantee their place in the quarter finals with a bonus point win over the Samoans, who suffered heavy defeats in the previous pool meetings against Scotland and Japan. If Ireland win but fail to score four tries, they will have to await the outcome of Sunday’s clash between the Brave Blossoms and the Scots to see if they have done enough to qualify for the quarter-final. Schmidt will confirm his replacements at this morning’s team announcement in Fukuoka at 8.0am, Irish time.