Henshaw and Sexton bolster Ireland’s chances of bonus-point win

‘What the players have done since the Ireland game is all you can ask of them’

in Fukuoka

Robbie Henshaw will make his first appearance of the World Cup against Samoa on Saturday. The Leinster centre will be named today in the Ireland team to face the Pacific Islanders after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Johnny Sexton returns at fly-half for a game Ireland must win with a bonus point in order to guarantee a quarter-final spot. Should Ireland lose or win without a bonus point on Saturday, they will have to wait on the result of the Scotland-japan game scheduled the following day.

Ireland will be confident of getting the result they need. They have looked a far more confident and assured team with their talisman at No 10, losing their way when he was absent against Japan, and shipping momentum after he went off against Russia. Joey Carbery provides the cover from the bench.

Sexton will have Bundee Aki and Henshaw outside him. Henshaw’s return is significant. Having flown the British and Irish Lion out to Japan, Joe Schmidt, the Ireland head coach, was under pressure to play him before the end of the pool stage. If he gets through the Samoa game in good shape, Ireland will have a major asset in the last eight.

The only surprise in the team, due to be announced at 8am, will be Jordan Larmour at full-back instead of Rob Kearney, who picked up a slight niggle against Russia last Timely return: Robbie Henshaw will play his first game of the World Cup on Saturday Thursday. Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale are on the wings.

Up front, Peter O’mahony starts on the bench, with Tadhg Beirne selected at blind side rather than Rhys Ruddock, a call which may raise eyebrows, given the latter’s man-of-the-match performance against Russia. The rest of the pack is as expected, with Cian Healy, Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong forming the front row, Iain Henderson and James Ryan partnered in the second row and Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander joining Beirne in the back row.

Furlong said any suggestion that Samoa might take their foot off the gas now that they can no longer qualify was misplaced. “It is their last game in the World Cup,” he said. “They have a lot to prove. They are a proud nation and I don’t think any of the player group or staff here is thinking that.”

Furlong is one of a number of Ireland players who has so far not lived up to his billing. Ireland’s tighthead was arguably the best in the world 12 months ago. After a weekend off, though, the Leinster prop was the latest player to say there was a different feel about the squad heading into the Samoa match. Russia Referee

“It feels like it’s very, very nearly there, but it probably just hasn’t clicked yet,” he said.

Furlong spent his time off enjoying Fukuoka’s local delicacies. “I went to a really good steak restaurant,” he said. “It was top notch, a tiny little place. It reminded me of The Butcher Grill in Ranelagh. They cook up a load of Wagyu beef, bring out the board and cook it in front of you with an open fire. It’s lovely.”

Furlong added that he drew the line when he was nearly served chicken cartilage. “I’m all for embracing the culture, but that’s a bit much for me.”

Ireland