Ireland recall Cian Healy, Devin Toner and Rob Kearney to face France

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt has made three changes to his team to face France at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday in their World Cup Pool D decider.

The losers are likely to face New Zealand in the quarter-finals, with the winners facing Argentina.

There are two changes in the pack, with Cian Healy replacing Jack McGrath at loosehead, and Devin Toner coming in for Iain Henderson in the second row.

Healy starts an Ireland game for the first time since undergoing surgery on his neck in May.

Henderson will feel unlucky after a fine performance against Italy last time out, but the towering Toner impressed too after coming off the bench and his ability at the line-out gets him the nod.

In the backs, Rob Kearney is restored at full-back in place of Simon Zebo. Jared Payne had been widely tipped to be restored to the team but he remains on the sidelines, partly because of his bruised foot, and partly down the fine form of Keith Earls.

Earls keeps his place at outside centre where he will be up against the hulking Mathieu Bastareaud, who has terrorised Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton in the past two games between the two countries.

France have been explicit about their intentions to target Sexton with a physical onslaught in Sunday's Pool D decider - but now they will certainly throw everything at Earls too.

Schmidt said: "We thought Keith player pretty well last week. Jared got through training completely, but we think if we put him back in on Sunday, it would aggravate the foot. We are guaranteed a game next week and whatever game it is, we want to have a full squad."

The Ireland coach is confident that Sexton can cope with anything the French throw at him.

"The last time we played France the first ball they got they came straight down Johnny's channel and made the same sort of noises what they were going to do then," he said.

"I do know one thing though: Jonathan Sexton will not be found wanting for courage. He won't step out of the way, he will put himself in harm's way.

"He is a big, strong lad and I think that gives us confidence that if they do go down that channel, Johnny will be ready for them.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw , 11 Dave Kearney,  10 Jonathan 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.