Sexton eyes O'Gara's record as he starts against Tonga / Photo: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT - AFP
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Sexton eyes O'Gara's record as he starts against Tonga
Johnny Sexton will have a chance to set a new points record for Ireland after being selected on Thursday for their second Rugby World Cup pool match against Tonga.
The 38-year-old fly-half is just nine points off his predecessor Ronan O'Gara's points mark of 1,083 after scoring 24 in last Saturday's opening 82-8 rout of Romania.
Sexton will be partnered at half-back by Conor Murray, who for years was the first choice scrum-half but has slipped behind Jamison Gibson-Park.
Head coach Andy Farrell has made other changes to the starting XV which faced Romania, bringing in Australia-born wing Mack Hansen for Keith Earls for the match in Nantes.
World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier gets a start after being a replacement last weekend and his Leinster teammate hooker Ronan Kelleher also starts.
Ireland, ranked number one in the world, will hope to make it two from two against a Tonga side that is yet to play at this World Cup.
Team (15-1)
Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw
Coach: Andy Farrell (ENG)
M.Fischer--AMWN