The Ireland coaching group have named the matchday squad that will take on Australia in the first Test of the Series at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday morning (11.05 Irish Time).
In the absence through injury of Rory Best, Peter O’Mahony will captain the team. O’Mahony first led Ireland on the summer tour to USA and Canada back in 2013. He is joined in the backrow by Jordi Murphy at openside and CJ Stander at No.8.
Here's your Ireland team to play @qantaswallabies in Brisbane on Saturday. #AUSvIRL #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/jQ8txA6dab
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 7, 2018
James Ryan and Iain Henderson partner up in the second row. IN the front row Rob Herring wins his 4th cap at hooker packing down alongside Jack McGrath and John Ryan in a new look front row.
Rob Kearney is named at fullback and is joined in the back three by Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Australia, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday June 9, 8pm Aus/11am IRL)
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 83 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 67 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 33 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 7 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 9 caps
10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 10 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 64 caps
1. Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 47 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 3 caps
3. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 13 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
5. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 38 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 47 caps capt
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 20 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 23 caps
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 61 caps
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 78 caps
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 23 caps
19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 5 caps
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 7 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 21 caps
22. Johnny Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 73 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 3 caps