Paul O'Connell posts picture on Instagram to highlight World Cup preparations 'back home'
Ireland captain Paul O’Connell may be busying himself and his colleagues for their World Cup opener against Canada, but appreciates preparations back home are every bit as intense.
Head coach Joe Schmidt today named his starting XV to face Canada in Cardiff on Saturday, with Robbie Henshaw to miss the encounter as a precaution after he picked up a hamstring injury in training on Tuesday.
Luke Fitzgerald will take his place in midfield, while Dave Kearney and Iain Henderson will also start the pool opener.
O’Connell, who has made no secret of his desire to win the World Cup in what will be his last tournament in an Ireland jersey, posted a picture on his Instagram to show that it’s not just within camp that World Cup preparations are underway.
O’Connell’s son Paddy is a regular to matches for both province and country and was most recently spotted following the World Cup warm-up defeat to Wales, his father’s final home game in a green jersey.

Online Editors
Related Content
- Joe Schmidt hopes Henshaw can return for Romania as Fitzgerald gets midfield nod
- 'Exciting playmaker' Fitzgerald will give us another dimension, insists Conor Murray
- Here are the 15 players Ireland will face in their World Cup opener
- Neil Francis: All you need is a good coach, an inspirational captain and decent half-backs...