O'Sullivan makes four changes for Samoa

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan today named his side to face Samoa in the third and final Test of the Summer Tour.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan today named his side to face Samoa in the third and final Test of the Summer Tour.

O'Sullivan made four changes to the starting XV who defeated Tonga 40-19 at the weekend. Anthony Horgan will earn his first international cap when he starts on the wing instead of Ulster's Tyrone Howe.

Girvan Dempsey has recovered from a bout of food poisoning and will resume at full-back in place of Mark McHugh.

Up front, Marcus Horan and Alan Quinlan line out at the expense of Justin Fitzpatrick and Kieron Dawson.

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Eric Miller was named at number eight, the news coming as something of a surprise considering the Leinster back-row is recovering from a broken nose and needed stitches to his eyelid and nose after a brutal stamping incident during the Tonga game.

Aidan McCullen, who is named on the bench, should provide more than adequate cover if called on.

Ireland XV:G Dempsey (Leinster); J Kelly (Munster), M Mullins (Munster), J Bell (Ulster), A Horgan (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), G Easterby (Llanelli); M Horan (Munster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster) (captain); L Cullen (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster); S Easterby (Llanelli), A Quinlan (Munster), E Miller (Leinster).

Replacements:P Shields (Ulster), E Byrne (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), A McCullen (Leinster), B O'Meara (Leinster, P Burke (Harlequins), G Darcy (Leinster).