Ireland spring a surprise with flyhalf selection
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named a powerful side to take on Australia in the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
The standout selection for the match is at flyhalf where Joey Carbery gets the No.10 ahead of the more experienced Jonathan Sexton. Conor Murray will wear the No.9 jersey.
Rob Kearney is named at fullback and is joined in the back three by Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls.
Robbie Henshaw returns to the team and is reunited with Bundee Aki in the centre.
Down Under 2018: @JacobStockdale on his whirlwind year with Ireland #AUSvIRL #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/z3mBfjF64V
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 7, 2018
In the absence through injury of Rory Best, Peter O’Mahony will captain the team. O’Mahony first led Ireland on the tour to USA and Canada back in 2013. He is joined in the back row by Jordi Murphy at openside and Christiaan Stander at No.8.
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.
The replacements named are Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Johnny Sexton and Jordan Larmour.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Christiaan Stander, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Iain Henderson, 4 James Ryan, 3 John Ryan, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Jordan Larmour.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.05 (11.05 UK and Ireland time; 10.05 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Here’s your Ireland team to play @qantaswallabies in Brisbane on Saturday. #AUSvIRL #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/jQ8txA6dab
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 7, 2018
