IRELAND COACH Joe Schmidt has named the match day 23 that will face Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday in the final game of the 2016 Guinness Series.
There are four changes to the side that started last week’s game against New Zealand. Garry Ringrose and Paddy Jackson start in place of the injured Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton while Keith Earls comes onto the left wing and Iain Henderson starts in the row.
Rory Best captain’s the side on his 100th appearance in green and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong. Henderson joins Devin Toner in the second row while last week’s backrow of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and CJ Stander is retained.
Conor Murray and Paddy Jackson are the half-back partnership with Garry Ringrose and Jared Payne filling the midfield. Keith Earls slots in on the left wing with Andrew Trimble on the right flank and Rob Kearney at full-back.
Ultane Dillane, Simon Zebo and Joey Carbery join Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Josh van der Flier and Kieran Marmion among the replacements.
IRELAND team to play Australia – Saturday 26th November, 2016
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (v/c)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster)
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
