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Ireland rugby captain O'Connell leads side in home farewell

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell is set to retire from Test rugby after the upcoming World Cup in England to join French giants Toulon

Paul O'Connell will captain Ireland in his final home international before Test retirement after coach Joe Schmidt announced Thursday a strong side for this weekend's World Cup warm-up match against Wales at Dublin's Lansdowne Road. O'Connell will form a second-row partnership with Iain Henderson, while prop Nathan White is in line for a first Test start after making a debut off the bench in a 28-22 win over Scotland fortnight ago. Behind the scrum, Schmidt has recalled first-choice half-backs Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. The New Zealander has also given Luke Fitzgerald, better known in Test rugby as a wing, a chance to start at outside centre after he paired the Leinster flyer alongside Robbie Henshaw in a new-look midfield. Six Nations champions Ireland beat Wales 35-21 in Cardiff nearly three weeks ago but Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, named a significantly stronger-looking side earlier Thursday. Ireland conclude their World Cup warm-up campaign away to main tournament hosts England at Twickenham on September 5. But Saturday's match will be Ireland's last before Schmidt names his final 31-man World Cup squad. The Irish begin their Pool D campaign against Canada in Cardiff on September, with the group also featuring France, Italy and Romania Ireland team to play Wales (15-1) Rob Kearney; Dave Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Jordi Murphy, Peter O'Mahony; Paul O'Connell (capt), Iain Henderson; Nathan White, Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath Replacements Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Donnacha Ryan, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson Felix Jones