Ireland Team To Play Australia

Nov 20 • General News, International, World Rugby • 1927 Views • Comments Off on Ireland Team To Play Australia

The Ireland Coaching team have made three changes to the starting XV named for the opening game of the series against South Africa.

Rory Best will win his 78th cap for Ireland when he lines out against Australia this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium in the final game of the 2014 Guinness Series.

Best is joined in the front row by Mike Ross and Jack McGrath, Gordon D’Arcy is installed at inside centre with Robbie Henshaw moving to outside centre. Rhys Ruddock is named to start at openside in a backrow that contains Jamie Heaslip and Peter O’Mahony.

Paul O’Connell captain’s the side on his 96th appearance for Ireland and is partnered in the engine room by Devin Toner.

The half-back combination of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton is retained from the South Africa game as is the back three of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo.

Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne and Rodney Ah You provide front row cover while Dave Foley is rewarded for his performance against Georgia with a place among the replacements.

Tommy O’Donnell is selected to cover the back-row while Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Felix Jones will cover the inside and outside backs.

IRELAND v Australia (GUINNESS Series 2014, Saturday 22nd November 2014, 16:30, Aviva Stadium)

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 56
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 55
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 4
12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 80
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 10
10. Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro) 46
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 29

1. Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 11
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 77
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 43
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 19
5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 95 CAPTAIN
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 24
7. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 4
8. Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster) 68

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 37
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12
18. Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3
19. Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1
20. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 6
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 57
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 12
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 8

Courtesy of Ireland Rugby