Ireland change for Wallabies
Ireland have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s World Cup Pool C clash with Australia at Eden Park in Auckland.
The centre partnership of Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll has been retained and they will play their 45th international together in the centres, breaking the world record.
D’Arcy and O’Driscoll share the record of 44 matches paired in the centres with England’s Jeremy Guscott and Will Carling prior to their joint appearance against Australia.
In terms of changes to the Ireland team, prop Cian Healy replaces Tom Court, flank Sean O’Brien comes in for Shane Jennings, scrumhalf Eoin Reddan takes over from Conor Murray and fullback Rob Kearney is in for Geordan Murphy.
The Irish opened with an unconvincing 22-10 win over the United States in New Plymouth.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Conor Murray, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Andrew Trimble.
Date: Saturday, September 17
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 20.30 (08.30 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
AFP
