1. Teams
Australia: James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, Sekope Kepu, Sam Carter, Rob Simmons, Luke Jones, Michael Hooper (capt), Ben McCalman; Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Henry Speight, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Israel Folau
Replacements: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Tetera Faulkner, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.
The Wallabies lineup has plenty of changes to the side that lost 29-26 to the French last weekend. James Horwill has been omitted from the match day 23, with workhorse Sam Carter replacing the former Wallaby captain. Youngster Sean McMahon has also been dropped from the 23 after playing the last two tests. Replacing McMahon will be Melbourne Rebels teammate Luke Jones.
In the backs, Christian Lealiifano has been given a spell, potentially allowing Matt Toomua to regain the stranglehold he held on the jersey prior to successive concussion issues. Brumbies Winger Henry Speight will join Toomua in the backline for his offical Wallaby debut in the 11 jersey.
After initially naming an extended bench, Michael Cheika has given Tetera Faulkner a shot at the Irish in favour of an out of form Ben Alexander. Jake Schatz returns to the Wallabies squad after missing out on a debut against the Springboks in 2013 due to injury. Most notably however is the exclusion of utility Rob Horne in favour of former “Amigos” Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale.
Keep an eye out for when Cheika decides to inject the x factor substitutes of Will Genia, Quade Cooper, and Kurtley Beale to join Israel Folau and Henry Speight in the backline.
Ireland: Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Paul O’Connell (capt), Peter O’Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Jamie Heaslip; Connor Murray, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Zebo, Gordon D’Arcy, Robbie Henshaw, Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones
After running out a training squad against Georgia last week, Joe Schmidt has named a full strength team to take on the Wallabies in conditions that are looking pretty miserable out of my window 20 minutes south of Lansdowne Road. There are plenty of familiar names in the starting XV from the British and Irish Lions tour, despite missing prop Cian Healy and flanker Sean O’Brien.
Lions Hooker Rory Best comes back from injury to push Sean Cronin to the bench. Meanwhile, the return of 80 cap veteran Gordon D’Arcy to the first team will provide lots of experience and leadership in a young backline, and shifting converted fullback Robbie Henshaw to thirteen to accomodate him should help contain Australia’s dangerous wide threats. Ireland certainly have the starpower in this team to take it to the Aussies.
I’ll elaborate on this further later, but keep an eye out for the battle between the center partnerships of Ireland and Australia.
