IRELAND BOSS ANDY Farrell has included Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien in his starting XV for Saturday’s autumn Test against Australia [KO 8pm, Virgin Media/Amazon].
25-year-old O’Brien will win his third cap on the left wing, while Stuart McCloskey has been retained at inside centre despite Bundee Aki’s return from suspension. The Connacht centre makes his comeback on the Irish bench.
Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune drops out of the matchday 23 with O’Brien selected to start and Mack Hansen moving over to the right wing.
Advertisement
Hugo Keenan is fit to start at fullback after overcoming a knock, while captain Johnny Sexton is back from a dead leg. Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier, and James Ryan are all fit to start too.
Meanwhile, Leinster’s 21-year-old lock Joe McCarthy is set to make his Test debut off the Ireland bench.
Garry Ringrose will team up with McCloskey in midfield, while Sexton partners Jamison Gibson-Park in the halfbacks.
The front row of Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong is restored, while Ryan resumes his second row pairing with Tadhg Beirne. Van der Flier and Peter O’Mahony return to the back row as Caelan Doris moves back to number eight after wearing the six jersey against Fiji last weekend.
McCarthy is included on the Irish bench, while Munster out-half Jack Crowley could win his second cap as a replacement.
Ireland (v Australia):
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jimmy O’Brien
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Jack Conan
21. Craig Casey
22. Jack Crowley
23. Bundee Aki
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe [NZR].
Get instant updates on your province on The42 app. With Laya Healthcare, official health and wellbeing partner to Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
58 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
O'Brien and McCloskey start in Ireland team to face the Wallabies
IRELAND BOSS ANDY Farrell has included Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien in his starting XV for Saturday’s autumn Test against Australia [KO 8pm, Virgin Media/Amazon].
25-year-old O’Brien will win his third cap on the left wing, while Stuart McCloskey has been retained at inside centre despite Bundee Aki’s return from suspension. The Connacht centre makes his comeback on the Irish bench.
Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune drops out of the matchday 23 with O’Brien selected to start and Mack Hansen moving over to the right wing.
Hugo Keenan is fit to start at fullback after overcoming a knock, while captain Johnny Sexton is back from a dead leg. Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier, and James Ryan are all fit to start too.
Meanwhile, Leinster’s 21-year-old lock Joe McCarthy is set to make his Test debut off the Ireland bench.
Garry Ringrose will team up with McCloskey in midfield, while Sexton partners Jamison Gibson-Park in the halfbacks.
The front row of Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong is restored, while Ryan resumes his second row pairing with Tadhg Beirne. Van der Flier and Peter O’Mahony return to the back row as Caelan Doris moves back to number eight after wearing the six jersey against Fiji last weekend.
McCarthy is included on the Irish bench, while Munster out-half Jack Crowley could win his second cap as a replacement.
Ireland (v Australia):
Replacements:
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe [NZR].
Get instant updates on your province on The42 app. With Laya Healthcare, official health and wellbeing partner to Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
andy farrell Australia Ireland Jimmy O'Brien stuart mccloskey Team news Wallabies