Heaslip skippers Ireland

Editor

Paul O'Connell has been named as Ireland captain for the November Test series, but will not start in Saturday's opener against Samoa.

Paul O'Connell has been named as Ireland captain for the November Test series, but will not start in Saturday's opener against Samoa.

Vice-captain Jamie Heaslip will lead the side at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Leinster loosehead prop Jack McGrath will earn his first senior cap against the powerful Samoans while Dave Kearney could also earn a first cap for Ireland as he starts on the bench.

There are six 2013 British and Irish Lions in the starting XV; Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Conor Murray, Jamie Heaslip and Rory Best and a further three Lions tourists Cian Healy, Paul O'Connell and Sean O'Brien named among the replacements.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c), 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Mike McCarthy, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Paul O'Connell, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Dave Kearney.

Date: Saturday, November 9
Kick-off: 17:45 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray (SANZAR)