Sexton to start against Fiji

Ireland v Fiji:As expected, Jonathon Sexton will make his Ireland debut against Fiji this weekend. Sexton follows in the footsteps of Cian Healy, who made his international bow against Australia last Sunday.

Sexton’s inclusion is one of eight changes made by coach Declan Kidney for the visit of Fiji to the RDS.

His Leinster teammates Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy and Eoin Reddan all come into the backs division with Tom Court, Leo Cullen and Denis Leamy added to the pack. Sean O’Brien and Sean Cronin will both hope to earn a first cap from the bench.

Sexton’s inclusion was welcomed by the Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, who is well aware of the 24-year-old’s ability.

“It’s been a huge six months for him,” O’Driscoll said at today’s team announcement. “Coming into the Heineken Cup semi-final (when Felipe Contepomi was injured) and controlling it the way he did, and then the final itself . . . he’s certainly deserving of his opportunity.”

With the match taking place at the Leinster’s home in the RDS, Sexton will be in familiar surroundings. And with six of the backs hailing from the province, he will hardly feel out of place.

“Myself and Eoin (Reddan) have played five or six times together and are getting used to each other’s game," he said today. "So it’s going to be good to have him and the other Leinster lads alongside me.”

Keith Earls comes in for Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing after the Leinster back was last night ruled out for up to six months with knee ligament damage.

Healy will sit out this weekend as he nurses a slight shoulder problem but Jerry Flannery and John Hayes are afforded more game time ahead of the visit of South Africa. Tony Buckley comes into the match day squad having recovered from injury.

Kidney explained his selection by underlining the need to add depth to Ireland’s playing resources.

“We talked about building a squad and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said. “A lot of the guys getting a go in this team have not played for Ireland for some time.

“You have to show belief in your squad and that’s what we’ve done with the team we’ve selected.”

Ireland (v Fiji):Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster); Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster); Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster); Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)