Conor Murray starts against Tonga while Craig Casey is in line for Rugby World Cup debut

Having opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with a 12-try victory over Romania in Bordeaux last weekend, Ireland head to Stade de la Beaujoire on Saturday night.

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Tonga in Nantes (Kick-off 9pm local time/8pm Irish time).

Conor Murray comes in from the start to partner Johnny Sexton while Tadhg Beirne moves to lock after a starring role at blindside last week. Peter O’Mahony moves to #6 in his place as Craig Casey and Dave Kilcoyne are named on the bench. If Casey features it would mark his World Cup debut.

Farrell has made two changes in personnel to his backline as Mack Hansen and Murray are named in the starting XV, while Ronan Kelleher and Josh van der Fliercome into the pack.

Hansen is selected in the back three alongside Hugo Keenan and James Lowe, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose continuing their midfield partnership. Murray comes into the scrum-half position to partner captain Sexton

Up front, Kelleher starts alongside Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, with Beirne shifting to the second row to pack down alongside James Ryan. Last weekend’s Player of the Match, O’Mahony, is named at blindside, with van der Flier at openside and Caelan Doris at number eight.

There are a number of players on the replacements bench in line for their Rugby World Cup debuts, as Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham join Rob Herring as the front row reinforcements, while Iain Henderson and Ryan Baird cover second row and back row respectively. Casey, Ross Byrne and Robbie Henshaw complete the Match Day 23.

As Team B for the fixture, Ireland will wear their Canterbury alternate kit for Saturday’s match as part of World Rugby’s colour blindness protocols.

All the action is live on RTÉ2 in Republic of Ireland and ITV in the United Kingdom.

Ireland Team & Replacements (V Tonga, Rugby World Cup Pool B, Nantes, Saturday, Sept 16)

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)(32)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)(17)
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(53)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)(48)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(22)
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(captain)(114)
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)(108)

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)(55)
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)(22)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)(68)
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(42)
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(56)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(97)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(53)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(32)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(38)
17. David Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians)(52)
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(32)
19. Iain Henderson  (Ulster/Academy)(75)
20. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)(13)
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)(12)
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)(21)
23. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)(65).