Five changes for Ireland but Sam Prendergast retains No10 shirt

Andy Farrell has changed five of his Ireland team for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series finale versus Australia in Dublin, but it is his decision to give Test rookie Sam Prendergast his second consecutive start that will generate headlines.

The Irish defeated Fiji 52-17 last weekend with a much changed XV following their 22-19 close shave with Argentina. Among those alterations was the awarding of a first start to the 21-year-old Prendergast following on from his international debut off the bench against the Pumas.

The expectation was that Jack Crowley, who had become the first-choice No10 in the wake of Johnny Sexton’s retirement, would be restored to the starting line-up versus the Wallabies, but that hasn’t happened as Prendergast will form the starting half-back partnership with the recalled Jamison Gibson-Park.

Scrum-half Gibson-Park, who takes over from the benched Craig Casey, is one of three changes to the back line for the November finale. Hugo Keenan is named at full-back for the injured Jamie Osborne while Jame Lowe returns to the left wing in place of Jacob Stockdale, another injury casualty from last weekend.

Up front, Ronan Kelleher rotates the hooker position with Gus McCarthy while James Ryan returns for Cormac Izuchukwu, who made his debut versus the Fijians along with McCarthy. Ryan’s return at lock sees Tadhg Beirne switch to blindside, the position that Izuchukwu had.

On the bench with McCarthy will be the Ireland caps record breaker Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Casey, Crowley and Garry Ringrose.

Farrell said in a team announcement statement: “Saturday’s Test match is a significant milestone in the story of Irish rugby. Aside from the 150th celebrations, for Cian it presents the opportunity to break the Test cap record, which is a remarkable achievement considering the robustness of his position. Cian is a giant of Irish rugby and we are determined to provide him with a performance that he deserves.

“We have seen steady improvements over the last few weeks and the visit of a strong Wallabies presents another challenge for the squad. There has been a collective determination to drive forward and finish the Autumn Nations Series on a high.”

Ireland (vs Australia, Saturday)

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) (41 caps)

14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht) (24)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) (76)

12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) (59)

11. James Lowe (Leinster) (35)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster) (2)

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) (37)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) (69)

2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) (36)

3. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht) (45)

4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster) (15)

5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (66)

6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) (55)

7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) (67)

8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) (46) (captain)

Replacements:

16. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (1)

17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) (133)

18. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster) (15)

19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster) (83)

20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (109)

21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) (17)

22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) (18)

23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) (62)