Bank Of Ireland Nations Series: Ireland v Australia

Young second row Joe McCarthy could become Ireland’s fifth debutant of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series when they entertain Australia in their final game of 2022 at the Aviva Stadium.

2022 BANK OF IRELAND NATIONS SERIES: Saturday, November 19

IRELAND v AUSTRALIA, Aviva Stadium, 8pm (live Virgin Media Two/Virgin Media Player/Amazon Prime/Stan Sport/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog)

Team News: There are seven changes to the Ireland team to play the Wallabies, along with three positional switches. Andy Farrell’s men are hoping to earn a national record-equalling 12th home win in a row.

Hugo Keenan lines out at full-back for his 25th cap, with recent debutant Jimmy O’Brien switching to the left wing and Mack Hansen stationed on the right. Captain Jonathan Sexton returns at half-back alongside Jamison Gibson-Park.

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey will make his third successive start for the first time in his Ireland career. He pairs up in midfield with Garry Ringrose, a try scorer against Australia during their last visit to Dublin in November 2016.

Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan pack down in the front row, either side of last week’s captain Tadhg Furlong, and Tadhg Beirne, set for his third start of the series, is joined in the second row by James Ryan.

Josh van der Flier, who has been nominated for the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year award along with Sexton, is reunited in the back row with Peter O’Mahony and number 8 Caelan Doris to complete the same pack that started against South Africa.

The uncapped McCarthy is named among the replacements alongside fellow Emerging Ireland tourist Jack Crowley. Bundee Aki returns from suspension to provide experience off the bench, alongside centurion Cian Healy, Lions tourist Jack Conan and Ulster’s Rob Herring.

Finlay Bealham will get a chance to face the country of his birth for a second time having played in the 2016 fixture at the Aviva Stadium, while Munster youngster Craig Casey will provide cover at scrum half.

Seven of the selected Ireland starting XV will be facing the Wallabies for the first time – Keenan, Hansen, McCloskey, O’Brien, Gibson-Park, Sheehan and Doris.

Speaking ahead of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series finale, head coach Farrell said: “Australia have a couple of things to hang their hats on in terms of motivation, etc. But in reality, ten changes for them and I suppose they get the leaders back in the room, so there’s a different vibe there straight from the start.

“Those guys are the ones that took to the field against Scotland and came so close to winning in Paris. Like we’ve said all week, we know how difficult that is.

“I’m sure that they will be using last week (their defeat to Italy) as motivation, and obviously putting that together with coming to the Aviva and taking our scalp, I’m sure that fires them up even more.

“The Australians are a great team to watch. They play a great brand of rugby, and knowing what they’re going to bring the party on Saturday night, it’s going to make for a brilliant spectacle.”

Melbourne Rebels’ Andrew Kellaway, and experienced half-backs Bernard Foley and Nic White, all return behind the scrum. NSW Waratahs’ Mark Nawaqanitawase remains on the right wing after making his debut last week.

Allan Ala’alatoa, younger brother of Leinster prop Michael, is the only player retained in the pack. The captaincy is restored to fellow prop James Slipper, and their ACT Brumbies team-mates, Nick Frost, returns from an ankle injury/illness to start at lock.

Former skipper Michael Hooper features in a strong back row trio with Jed Holloway and Rob Valetini, with La Rochelle giant Will Skelton held in reserve for his impact off the bench. That is the case too for Pete Samu and Taniela Tupou.

“We’re still hurting from last week and the only way to do so (bounce back) is a response against the Irish,” said Rennie, who has been in charge of the Wallabies since July 2020.

“Ireland are an excellent side who are very well coached and drilled. They have a lot of experience and players with 30-plus Test caps with 150-plus club games.

“They’re a very good side but that’s exciting to test ourselves against the top-ranked side in the world.”

IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Leinster), Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).

Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht).

AUSTRALIA: Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels); Mark Nawaqanitawase (NSWS Waratahs), Len Ikitau (ACT Brumbies), Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds), Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies); Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears), Nic White (ACT Brumbies); James Slipper (ACT Brumbies) (capt), David Porecki (NSW Waratahs), Allan Ala’alatoa (ACT Brumbies), Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies), Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies), Jed Holloway (NSW Waratahs), Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs), Rob Valetini (ACT Brumbies).

Replacements: Folau Fainga’a (ACT Brumbies), Tom Robertson (Western Force), Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds), Will Skelton (La Rochelle), Pete Samu (ACT Brumbies), Jake Gordon (NSW Waratahs), Noah Lolesio (ACT Brumbies), Jordan Petaia (Queensland Reds).

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Tual Trainini (France)
Television Match Official: Stuart Terheege (England)