Ireland rugby captain O'Connell leads side in home farewell

Paul O'Connell will captain Ireland in his final home international before Test retirement after coach Joe Schmidt announced Thursday a strong side for this weekend's World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

O'Connell will form a second-row partnership with Iain Henderson, while prop Nathan White is in line for a first Test start after making a debut off the bench in a 28-22 win over Scotland fortnight ago.

Behind the scrum, Schmidt has recalled first-choice half-backs Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton.

The New Zealander has also given Luke Fitzgerald, better known in Test rugby as a wing, a chance to start at outside centre after he paired the Leinster flyer alongside Robbie Henshaw in a new-look midfield.

Six Nations champions Ireland beat Wales 35-21 in Cardiff nearly three weeks ago but Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, named a significantly stronger-looking side earlier Thursday.

Ireland conclude their World Cup warm-up campaign away to main tournament hosts England at Twickenham on September 5.

But Saturday's match will be Ireland's last before Schmidt names his final 31-man World Cup squad.

The Irish begin their Pool D campaign against Canada in Cardiff on September, with the group also featuring France, Italy and Romania  

Ireland team to play Wales (15-1)

Rob Kearney; Dave Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Jordi Murphy, Peter O'Mahony; Paul O'Connell (capt), Iain Henderson; Nathan White, Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath

Replacements Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson Felix Jones
Source: AFP