Sexton back in business

Despite lingering concerns over a groin injury, Johnny Sexton will start for Ireland in their quarter-final matchup with Argentina on Sunday.

Ireland have opted to take the risk of throwing their fly-half linchpin from the start against the Pumas in Cardiff, even though the Leinster man has had to fight a fitness battle all week having trudged out of Ireland's 24-9 victory over France at the Millennium Stadium after just 25 minutes last weekend.

Although Ireland have already named the 30 year-old in their starting line-up, there will be a call for Sexton to use all the available time between now and Sunday to ensure his groin issue has healed as near to completely as possible.

Ireland must face Argentina without pivotal pack leaders Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony and Sean O'Brien, and have addressed the influential trio’s enforced absence by drafting Jordi Murphy into their back row.

Chris Henry starts at openside flanker as expected, with Iain Henderson slotting in alongside Devin Toner at lock.

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt opted to keep the changes to a minimum after captain O'Connell's tournament and Test-career ending hamstring injury.

O'Connell was in London for surgery on his torn hamstring on Thursday but is expected to return to Ireland's World Cup camp and be on hand to aid preparations for the last-eight battle.

O'Mahony hwoever has already returned to Cork as he starts the long process of recovering from knee ligament damage.

O'Brien will sit out Sunday's Pumas clash owing to his one-match ban for punching France's Pascal Pape in the first minute of last weekend's Pool D decider.

Ireland Starting XV: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Iain Henderson; Jordi Murphy, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jordi McGrath, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald.