Nov 29,2024
Sam Prendergast has retained his spot at out-half for Ireland's final Autumn Nations Series game against Australia on Saturday, with head coach Andy Farrell giving the 21-year-old another opportunity to shine.
Prendergast will earn his third cap in the visit of the Wallabies, with Jack Crowley having to settle for a place on the bench, and Ciarán Frawley missing out on the matchday squad entirely.
Farrell has made five changes from last week's 52-17 win against Fiji as Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Rónan Kelleher and James Ryan all return to the starting side.
Saturday's game marks the IRFU's 150th anniversary celebrations, and it will also be a momentous day for Cian Healy. Two weeks after equalling Brian O'Driscoll's record of 133 Ireland caps, the Leinster prop will move out on his own with 134 appearances, if he features off the bench.
Aside from Prendergast's inclusion, there are no major surprises in Farrell's line-up, with Gibson-Park returning to partner the young 10 in the half-backs.
The centre pairing of Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki is retained after they impressed against Fiji, while Garry Ringrose will provide cover off the bench.
Lowe returns on the left wing with Jacob Stockdale injured, while Keenan comes back in at full-back in the absence of Jamie Osborne, and Mack Hansen starts his fourth game in a row on the right wing.
In the pack, Kelleher re-joins Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham in the front row, Gus McCarthy is set for a second cap off the bench, and Tom O'Toole will provide tighthead cover among the replacements.
Ryan's return comes at the expense of Cormac Izuchukwu, with Tadhg Beirne shifting back to flanker, where he joins Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris.
Elsewhere, Iain Henderson and Peter O'Mahony are included as experienced forward reinforcements, while Craig Casey has held off Conor Murray to take the number 21 shirt.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki; James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
