Joe Schmidt has gone with the tried and trusted for Ireland's Pool D decider with France this Sunday. Schmidt has named almost the same XV that played in the thrilling Six Nations finale in Murrayfield.
Jared Payne has suffered a late setback in his recovery from a foot injury, and Earls continues to deputise at inside centre in his place.
Dave Kearney replaces Luke Fitzgerald in other of two changes from that day, which sees Rob join his brother and Tommy Bowe in the back three.
One surprising call is that Devin Toner's lineout nous is preferred to Iain Henderson's ball-carrying ballast. Henderson will be tasked with providing an impact for Toner off the bench after an hour. The other big move is to re-instate Cian Healy from the start, as Jack McGrath drops to the bench.
With the France team already named, it could be that Schmidt is setting Ireland up to win the aerial battle - calling on the GAA skills of the Kearneys and Bowe to claim high balls over the diminutive Brice Dulin on the wing.
Here's the team for #FRAvIRE in #RWC2015 #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/sQGPJTiNzb
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 9, 2015
Ireland Team To Face France, Sunday 11th October 4.45pm
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Jack McGrath
18. Nathan White
19. Iain Henderson
20. Chris Henry
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Ian Madigan
23. Luke Fitzgerald
See Also: France's Team For Sunday Plays Right Into Joe Schmidt's Hands
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
