Head coach Andy Farrell is set to give Munster’s Shane Daly his debut off the bench, with second row James Ryan leading the team out on home soil for the first time.
For the final Group A of the Autumn Nations Cup, Jacob Stockdale returns at full-back with Hugo Keenan reverting to the right wing and Keith Earls moving back to the left.
Chris Farrell is partnered in the centre by fellow Ulster native Stuart McCloskey, who comes in for his first international appearance since the home win over the USA two years ago.
Ulster’s Billy Burns is handed the reins at out-half, making his first start following his try-creating chip for Stockdale against England. Conor Murray wins his 86th cap alongside him.
It will be a third start for versatile prop Finlay Bealham, who dons the number 1 jersey for the first time. His two previous starts – in Guinness Series games in 2016 and 2018 – were both at tighthead.
Rob Herring and Andrew Porter, who gets his fifth successive start at tighthead, complete the front row, with captain Ryan and Iain Henderson reunited this week in the engine room.
The selected back row sees Tadhg Beirne starting at blindside flanker for only the third time in his Test career. Will Connors gets the nod at openside and CJ Stander switches back to the number 8 role.
23-year-old back Daly, who won the Energia All-Ireland League title with Cork Constitution in 2019, is the only uncapped player included. Following in the footsteps of Keenan and Connors, the Corkman is poised to become Ireland’s latest dual international.
Daly enjoyed notable success with the Ireland Sevens team in recent seasons, lining out with Anthony Eddy’s side in both the Rugby World Cup Sevens and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Kieran Marmion and Ross Byrne are the other replacement backs in Sunday’s matchday 23, while there is a good deal of experience among the reserve forwards – Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Quinn Roux and Peter O’Mahony.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Georgia, which will be shown live on RTÉ One, Channel 4 and Amazon Prime (UK only), Andy Farrell said:
It’s a chance for Billy to run the show for the first time. It is his opportunity to grab a hold of the team so we are excited about that. Obviously that builds a little bit of experience in that position as well.
“We are obviously a small playing pool and with a small playing pool you are always one or two injuries away from a crisis. Shane is the special one, isn’t it?
“To be able to give someone the opportunity to make his debut off the bench for his country is a special moment for him and his family. He is a guy that has had a bit of bad luck throughout this tournament.
“He was injured three or four weeks before he came into camp and then he came in fully fit but reinjured a groin issue. He missed a couple of weeks but he has fitted in unbelievably well.
“We always talk about the different pressures of an international training camp for a youngster. He has fitted in very well. Very excited to see him. He is a player that can cover many positions for us as well.”
Meanwhile, Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili has made six changes to the side that lost 18-0 away to Wales. His matchday squad includes 11 French-based players and three from England.
In a back-line led by Brive pair Tedo Abzhandadze and Vasil Lobzhanidze, the fit-again Soso Matiashvili returns at full-back with Agen’s Tamaz Mchedlidze making his first Nations Cup start out wide.
Talented 21-year-old out-half Abzhandadze had a four-month stint playing for the Terenure College Under-20s in 2017/18, and will no doubt be benefiting from the input of David Humphreys and Neil Doak, two recent additions to Georgia’s coaching team.
Kote Mikautadze’s rib injury opens the door for London Scottish clubman Nodar Cheisvili to return at lock where he partners Lasha Jaiani who is promoted from the replacements.
The other change to the front five is hooker Shalva Mamukashvili from Leicester Tigers, while Biarritz youngster Tornike Jalagonia is promoted for his first start at openside flanker.
20-year-old scrum half Mikheil Alania and full-back Davit Niniashvili, who is just 18, could make their international debuts from the bench.
Autumn Nations Cup Fixtures/Results
Autumn Nations Cup Table
IRELAND: Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster); Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster); Billy Burns (UIster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Will Connors (UCD/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Kieran Marmion (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster).
GEORGIA: Soso Matiashvili (Lelo Saracens); Akaki Tabutsadze (Lelo Saracens), Giorgi Kveseladze (RC Armazi Marneuli), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac) (capt), Tamaz Mchedlidze (Agen); Tedo Abzhandadze (Brive), Vasil Lobzhanidze (Brive); Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier), Shalva Mamukashvili (Leicester Tigers), Beka Gigashvili (Toulon), Nodar Cheishvili (London Scottish), Lasha Jaiani (Exeter University), Beka Saginadze (Lelo Saracens), Tornike Jalagonia (Biarritz Olympique), Beka Gorgadze (Bordeaux-Begles).
Replacements: Giorgi Chkoidze (Lelo Saracens), Lexo Kaulashvili (Bordeaux-Begles), Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Francais), Giorgi Javakhia (Lyon), Mikheil Gachechiladze (Enisei-STM), Mikheil Alania (Jiki Gori), Demur Tapladze (Lelo Saracens), Davit Niniashvili (Unattached).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television Match Official: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Pre-Match Quotes: Finlay Bealham (Ireland) –
Georgia have always had a really strong set piece and some really big forwards. We know that’s going to be a huge area on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s an opportunity as well for us to go against a quality pack in Georgia, really test ourselves. Outside the forwards, they’ve got some really explosive backs who have a lot of size as well.
“They’ve been playing some good rugby. I know the results haven’t gone their way, but we’re under no illusions. It’s going to be a tough game and we’re preparing accordingly for that.”
Levan Maisashvili (Georgia) –
Static phases with Ireland will be crucial. We’ve done our analysis and hope to play better this week. Managing the game, which we have no experience at this level, remains a problem.
“We’re playing teams of such a level that you cannot oppress anyone and we need more variation in attack, for which we now have more time than we had in the previous matches.
“We will try our best. From game to game, both the coaches and the players are gaining a lot of experience and we’ve obviously seen some progress through the competition.”
Pre-Match Links –
Free Digital Match Programme – Ireland v Georgia
Head-To-Head: Ireland v Georgia
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run At Aviva Stadium
Fogarty Wants To See ‘Calm And Controlled’ Ireland Take Charge
‘Chop Shop’ Growing Connors’ Game As He Sets Sights On Georgia
Farrell Excited To See How New Combinations Fare Against Georgia
Previous Meetings –
1998: Rugby World Cup Qualifier: Ireland 70 Georgia 0, Lansdowne Road
2002: Rugby World Cup Qualifier: Ireland 63 Georgia 14, Lansdowne Road
2007: Rugby World Cup Pool D: Georgia 10 Ireland 14, Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
2014: Guinness Series: Ireland 49 Georgia 7, Aviva Stadium
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