Ireland face Australia this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off: 3.10 pm)
With two wins on the bounce for Andy Farrell’s Ireland side, a convincing win this weekend over a resurgent Aussie team would go a long way to retrieving some goodwill after the dour loss to New Zealand and a scoreless second-half against Argentina.
Ireland’s newbies have shown up well this Autumn Nations Series and look comfortable at this level and ready to make an impact.
A side filled with the usual experienced heads with a smattering of fresher faces should be enough to get past a Joe Schmidt-coached Wallaby side – and help ease concern over a perceived staleness in Farrell’s selections.
But Ireland will need to sort out a few key areas – namely the line out and their discipline – to avoid slipping on this potential banana skin.
Ireland vs Australia 23:
15 – Hugo Keenan
Had Jamie Osborne been passed fit for this weekend we would have given this slot to the Kildare man, given his current form on the ball and game-breaking ability.
None the less, Keenan is still first choice and will want to quieten any doubts over his status in the squad.
14 – Mack Hansen
Harsh on Calvin Nash, who has not seen a minute on the pitch this Autumn Series and has been better in recent months than the Aussie native.
But Mack deserves time to rediscover his 2023 form.
13 – Robbie Henshaw
One of Ireland’s most consistent players, with his main issue being injuries.
But despite not playing this season until late last month, he hit the ground running, and showed in last week’s win over Fiji why he and Bundee Aki make up Ireland’s best centre partnership.
12 – Bundee Aki
Out of the 23 for the Argentina game, he took that ‘on the chin’, and returned with a man-of-the-match performance against Fiji.
Hopefully that will be a springboard for him to reach the form that earned him a World Player of the Year nomination in 2023.
11- James Lowe
Jacob Stockdale would have been our pick had he not picked up a hamstring injury during a strong return to the Ireland fold against Fiji.
Thankfully Lowe – who was recently selected in World Rugby’s 2024 Men’s XV Dream Team – will be on hand.
10 – Sam Prendergast
Ireland’s attack was leagues better against the Fijians than it had been the previous two weeks against the All Blacks and Argentina.
How much of this was down to the quality of the opposition? Ireland working themselves back into form? Or the vision and passing of Prendergast?
Start him on Saturday and we will be a lot closer to answering that question – with Crowley on hand to hopefully steer Ireland home to victory.
9 – Craig Casey
Unlikely to be in the starting XV, but his last two starts for his country – against South Africa in the summer and Fiji last week – have been superb.
Jamison Gibson-Park off the bench for the last 20 minutes would also be an enthralling sight.
1- Andrew Porter
The Tom O’Toole at loose head experiment did not go to plan against Fiji when the Ulster man came off the bench.
Porter is the only option in Ireland’s weakest position depth-wise.
2 – Rónan Kelleher
Such was showing of debutant Gus McCarthy against Fiji, there is a strong case for the 21-year-old to start.
But Kelleher’s work in the the tight exchanges is still the best of any Irish hooker, and the youngster can make an impact for the last 20-30 minutes.
3 – Thomas Clarkson
A risk perhaps, but the 24-year-old has had two impressive cameos off the bench so far this autumn, while Finlay Bealham looks off his best.
4 – Joe McCarthy
Looks to still be in third/fourth gear over the last few weeks, but has not been put under much pressure for his position by Iain Henderson, while the injured Ryan Baird has been released back to Leinster.
5 – James Ryan
Has been massive in defence this November, but along with the rest of the pack – and forwards coach Paul O’Connell – needs to shore up the line out.
6 – Tadhg Beirne
Another one of the four Irish players to make the 2024 Dream Team and probably the best player in the country over the past four years.
7 – Josh van der Flier
Enjoying a recent resurgence, and has been Ireland’s player of the Autumn Series alongside captain Caelan Doris.
However, like at loose head, Ireland could do with unearthing another openside flanker over the next year.
8 – Caelan Doris (captain)
Few players are better than the Mayo native at the minute.
With Jack Conan injured – and Nick Timoney still unfancied by head Farrell despite being in the squad – Doris has played every minute this November.
Replacements:
Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
