Head Coach Andy Farrell has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for Saturday’s opening Nations Championship clash against Australia at Allianz Stadium (Kick-off 8.10pm local time/11.10am Irish time). Ireland kick off the inaugural Nations Championship under Saturday night lights in Sydney, with Dan Sheehan to captain Farrell’s side at a sold-out Allianz Stadium. Hugo Keenan starts at fullback for Ireland, with Rob Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne named on the wings. Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey line out in midfield, while Sam Prendergast partners Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs. In the pack, Tom O’Toole, Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the second row. Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan are named in the back row to complete Ireland’s starting team. On the bench, Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney are the forwards replacements, with Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Bundee Aki the backline options available to Farrell.
Ireland v Australia:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(46)
14. Rob Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(8)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(74)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(28)
11. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(15)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(15)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(51)
1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(21)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(39)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(86)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(24)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(80)
6. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(11)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(79)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(59)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(48)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(8)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(13)
19. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(70)
20. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(11)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(28
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(12)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(69).
