Foy, who started with Carrigaline RFC before moving to Cork Con and then UCC when he went to study there, was one of Ireland’s best performers during a testing Six Nations earlier this year but missed the group games in Italy through injury.

The return of the Munster academy player is a timely boost as Ireland bid to repeat their Six Nations win over Scotland — their only victory which saw them finish bottom of that tournament — and avoid the wooden spoon.

Victory over Scotland in Verona on Monday (5,0pm Irish time) will set them up for a clash with either Georgia or Spain for ninth place, but defeat will see them face one of those two to avoid finishing bottom.

Doak has made seven changes with the the inclusion of Foy in a revamped back row where Bobby Power starts in place of his Galwegians and Connacht colleague Eanna McCarthy, the Irish skipper, with Oisin Minogue, who has scored in each of the last two games against Italy and New Zealand, switching to No 8.

Henry Walker, who played with Hartpury College and Saracens’ U-18s before the Irish-qualified hooker joined the Ulster academy, skippers the side.

Páidí Farrell, scorer of two tries in the opening round win over Georgia, is recalled on the right wing, while another significant change sees Sam Wisniewski get the nod over Tom Wood at out-half, while Clark Logan takes over from Will Wootton at No 9.

It has been a torrid World Championship as well for Scotland who lost 56-19 to England, 34-24 to Australia and 73-14 to South Africa in the group stages.

Meanwhile, Irish prop Billy Bohan, red-carded for a dangerous tackle shortly after scoring against New Zealand, won’t feature again in the tournament as he has been banned for three matches. The ban will be reduced to two games if he successfully completes the Coaching Intervention Programme.

Ireland: D Green; P Farrell; C Mangan, E Smyth, G O’Leary Kareem; S Wisniewski, C Logan; A Usanov, H Walker (c), A Mullan; M Ronan, C Kennelly; M Foy, B Power, O Minogue. Replacements: L McLaughlin, P Moore, T McAllister, B Corrigan, E McCarthy, W Wootton, J Scott, C Molony.

Scotland: J Brown; N Moncrieff, J Ventisei, K Yule, F Watson; M Urwin, H Patterson; O McKenna, S Stephen, O Blyth-Lafferty; D Cockburn, B Godsell; O Duncan, F Douglas, R Logan. Replacements: J Roberts, B White, J Shearer, C Moss, M Fyffe, N Cowan, J Hocking, J Findlay.

Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy).