Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has told Luke Fitzgerald an impressive Test debut against the Pacific Islands will catapult him into the World Cup reckoning.

Fitzgerald will become the youngest player to represent Ireland since Alistair McKibbin faced Wales in 1977 after being named on the right wing for Sunday's autumn finale.

Just six months ago the 19-year-old was still playing schools rugby and he only made his Leinster debut in September.

But O'Sullivan has seen enough to fast track him into the Test team and insists Sunday's Lansdowne Road farewell is an opportunity to prove he is worthy of consideration for next year's World Cup.

"Luke has really impressed me since the start of the season. He's been there or thereabouts in a very competitive Leinster backline," he said.

"It's been a remarkable rise for him but if you're good enough you're old enough. That might be difficult to say in a front-five position, but it's slightly different in the backs.

"I saw him play against France in a schools game 18 months ago and I liked what I saw. Some players can be outstanding at schools level but then take some time to bed in at senior level. But he's hit the ground running again.

"He's a very talented player. I don't want to put too much pressure on him because it's a big step up to Test level. He didn't put a foot wrong in the A game against Australia last week and his call-up is just reward for that performance.

"The World Cup is only 10 months away and if he's going to make a pitch to get into that squad then this is the opportunity to do it."

Brian O'Driscoll, Fitzgerald's Leinster and Ireland skipper, is also an admirer of the teenage star.

"I think that good soccer skills are generally a tell-tale sign of how good a footballer a player is," he said. "I've never seen a guy with better soccer skills than Luke Fitzgerald - except maybe Maradona. It's phenomenal with the little tricks he does before training.

"It reflects his rugby playing ability. He's very confident, his passing his equally good off either side. He's the first person at training at Leinster and, invariably, the last man to leave, so what more can you say about the guy?"

Fitzgerald is one of three new caps with Leinster team-mate Jamie Heaslip, 22, and Ulsterman Stephen Ferris, 21, starting in a revamped back row.

The highly rated duo — Heaslip is a skilful number eight while Ferris' abrasive style has won plaudits — will link up with veteran Simon Easterby, who returns at blindside flanker after watching the victories over South Africa and Australia from the bench.

Paddy Wallace also makes his first start after being selected ahead of Ronan O'Gara with his sights set on sealing his status as chief understudy to the Munster fly-half.

"It's a form team. There are nine changes with three new caps but it's still a strong line-up, good enough to win," O'Sullivan added.

Elsewhere, Frankie Sheahan ousts Rory Best at hooker and Malcolm O'Kelly makes his first start since the Six Nations at the expense of Donncha O'Callaghan. Best and O'Callaghan feature among the substitutes.

In the backs, Girvan Dempsey is restored at full-back with Geordan Murphy dropping out of the squad altogether. Shane Horgan switches to inside centre and Gordon D'Arcy is named on the bench.

There is a new half-back combination with Peter Stringer returning in the number nine jersey where he will link up with Wallace, while O'Driscoll will lead the team for the 33rd time.

The Pacific Islands clash will be the final rugby international played at Lansdowne Road before the ground begins redevelopment in January.

Ireland:  15- Girvan Dempsey, 14 - Luke Fitzgerald, 13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Capt), 12 - Shane Horgan, 11 - Denis Hickie, 10 - Paddy Wallace, 9 - Peter Stringer. 1- Bryan Young, 2 - Frankie Sheahan, 3 - John Hayes, 4 - Malcolm O'Kelly, 5 - Paul O'Connell, 6 - Simon Easterby, 7 - Stephen Ferris, 8 - Jamie Heaslip. Replacements:16 - Rory Best, 17 - Simon Best, 18 - Donncha O'Callaghan, 19 - Denis Leamy, 20 - Isaac Boss, 21 - Ronan O'Gara 22 - Gordon D'Arcy

Not Considered due to injury:

Andrew Trimble {Hamstring}, Marcus Horan {Calf}