Cullen is joined by hooker Sean Cronin and flanker Donnacha Ryan in making their first appearances in the tournament.

Ronan O’Gara also comes in to replace Jonathan Sexton at fly-half as Kidney looks to use the full depth of his squad with the clash with Italy just around the corner.

He said: “I think in tournament rugby it's extremely difficult to play in games non-stop.

“These guys who are playing here have been training very well, and I think they're the best men to represent us in this match.

“I always say to the lads, the easiest job here is playing one to 15. The difficult job is not being in the starting 15.”

Fergus McFadden and Tony Buckley will make their first starts of the World Cup while flanker Shane Jennings continues to kick his heels on the bench.

Denis Leamy and Tom Court, who were also hoping to start on Sunday, will be among the replacements in Rotorua.

Brian O’Driscoll and injured trio Gordon D’Arcy, Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe all make way from the side that beat Australia last Saturday, with Paddy Wallace coming in at centre for his first World Cup start in his third tournament.

Kidney added: “What Paddy has contributed would be an example for every young player coming through of how to give to the squad without always wanting yourself.

“He's been as disappointed as any man I've ever left off, but he always takes some time for himself then comes back and feeds it back into the team.”

Ireland team to face Russia:

15 - Rob Kearney – Leinster  

14 - Fergus McFadden – Leinster  

13 - Keith Earls – Ulster  

12 - Paddy Wallace – Ulster

11 - Andrew Trimble – Ulster  

10 - Ronan O'Gara – Munster  

9 - Isaac Boss – Leinster  

1 - Cian Healy – Leinster

2 - Sean Cronin – Leinster  

3 - Tony Buckley – Sale

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan – Munster  

5 - Leo Cullen – Leinster

6 - Donnacha Ryan – Munster

7 - Sean O'Brien – Leinster   

8 - Jamie Heaslip – Leinster

Replacements:

16 - Rory Best – Ulster

17 - Mike Ross – Leinster   

18 - Denis Leamy – Munster  

19 - Shane Jennings – Leinster

20 - Eoin Reddan – Leinster

21 - Jonathan Sexton – Leinster

22- Geordan Murphy – Leicester