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Joe Schmidt rings changes for series decider
By Online Editors
Flanker Peter O’Mahony will lead a new-look Ireland side for their series-deciding match against Australia at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
O'Mahony is joined in the back row by CJ Stander at blindside and Jack Conan at Number Eight.
James Ryan and Devin Toner continue their partnership in the second row while Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin join Tadhg Furlong in the front row.
In the backline, Robbie Henshaw reverts to outside centre with Bundee Aki lining out in the No. 12 jersey. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton fill the halves. Rob Kearney, Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls make up the back three.
The replacements named are Niall Scannell, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Jordi Murphy, Kieran Marmion, Ross Byrne and Jordan Larmour.
Rob Herring, Andrew Porter, Dan Leavy, Garry Ringrose Andrew Conway, John Cooney and Joey Carbery all fall out of Joe Schmidt's matchday 23. Leavy, Ringrose and Conway are out through injury.
The series is currently tied at one win each, with Australia edging Ireland 18-9 in the first Test and Ireland responding with a 26-21 win in the second Test.
IRELAND
1. Jack McGrath, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. James Ryan, 5. Devin Toner, 6. CJ Stander, 7. Peter O'Mahony (C), 8. Jack Conan; 9. Conor Murray, 10. Johnny Sexton, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 14. Keith Earls, 15. Rob Kearney.
Reserves: 16. Niall Scannell, 17. Cian Healy, 18. John Ryan, 19. Tadhg Beirne, 20. Jordi Murphy, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Jordan Larmour.
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Latest Comments
The Rebels situation is understandably a touchy subject for Geoff Parling but I’m currently listening to a podcast with Mat Rogers who bluntly said “the best thing to happen to Australian rugby union in the last 15 years is the Melbourne Rebels going broke”, citing the better spread of talent across Australian rugby.
Having Skelton in the squad for the Lions series is a must. Yes he’s a 2nd rower who's a lineout lifter instead of a lineout jumper but his mongrel is essential as displayed against Wales in November.
As for the 7-1 bench split, I flip flop between praising Rassie Erasmus and Fabien Galthie for playing to their team’s strengths and being willing to embrace the trade-off that comes with a 7-1 bench composition but also believing World Rugby should stipulate that a bench must have at least 2 specialist backs.
Go to commentsRatings seem hugely generous, they were awful one and all.
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