Farrell names Leinster-heavy side to face Wallabies / Photo: © AFP
Farrell names Leinster-heavy side to face Wallabies
Ireland coach Andy Farrell opted for Sam Prendergast as his playmaker for their Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney in a starting XV dominated by Leinster players.
The world's third-ranked team head into the clash on the back of a strong Six Nations campaign, finishing runner-up to France.
But they have been beset by injuries with a host of no-shows for their three-match tour that also includes Tests against Japan and New Zealand.
Skipper Caelan Doris is a key absentee with hooker Dan Sheehan assuming the armband.
Others missing include looseheads Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, along with flyhalf Jack Crowley who finished the Six Nations as Ireland's first-choice No.10.
Prendergast will start at flyhalf instead, preferred to Harry Byrne, and will partner experienced scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
Hugo Keenan is at fullback with the lightning-quick Rob Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne on the wings, while the ever-dependable Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey are the centres.
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 were named in the back row.
Leinster provide 11 of the starters and have three more players on the bench.
Ireland have won their last five matches against Australia dating back to 2018, most recently in Dublin last year when they stormed to a 46-19 victory.
Ireland (15-1):
Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast; James Ryan, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tom O'Toole
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki
J.al-Balooshi--BT
