Keith Earls will continue at outside centre for Ireland's final Rugby World Cup pool match as coach Joe Schmidt continues to exercise caution regarding the fitness of Jared Payne.

Payne had been anticipated to overcome a foot injury and feature against France on Sunday, in a Millennium Stadium clash that will decide which team wins Pool D and avoids a likely meeting with world champions New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

However, while the fit-again Rob Kearney returns at full-back in one of three changes to the Ireland team that laboured to victory over Italy last time out, Payne has been overlooked once again - with Earls retaining the number 13 jersey rather than switching to the wing.

Explaining the decision, Schmidt said "We felt that Keith played pretty well last week among a pretty flat effort and he played exceptionally well the last time he was in the Millennium Stadium at centre [for a World Cup warm-up match against Wales in August].

"We do think if we put him [Payne] back into the game on Sunday, then it would aggravate the foot.

"We just felt it was pertinent to leave Jared for another week. We're guaranteed a game next week and whichever game it is we want to make sure we've got a fully fit squad to select from."

Ireland have surprisingly left out the in-form Iain Henderson, with Devin Toner preferred in the second row, while prop Cian Healy makes his first start of the tournament at the expense of Jack McGrath.

Ireland team: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Paul O'Connell (captain), Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jack McGrath, Nathan White, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald.