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O'Driscoll gets one more shot

Brian O'Driscoll, Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney have been named in the Ireland team to play New Zealand in their country's final year-end Test, in Dublin on Sunday.

Ireland's starting pack remains unchanged from last week's clash with Australia and will feature Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Peter O'Mahony in the back row.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell will be partnered by Devin Toner in the second row and Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross pack down in the front row.

Conor Murray comes in for Eoin Reddan at scrumhalf and two-try debutante Dave Kearney earns his second cap on the wing in place of the injured Fergus McFadden.

Gordon D'Arcy wins his 75th cap for Ireland and will partner Brian O'Driscoll in the Irish midfield for a record 52nd time.

O'Driscoll will play for Ireland for the 128th time, joining Ronan O'Gara as Ireland's most capped player.

Jordan Coughlan, Ian Nagle, Billy Dardis, Steve Crosbie and Dan Leavy were brought in to train with the Irish team to allow senior players to return to their provinces.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 David Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Kevin McLaughlin, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.

Date: Sunday, November 24

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Kick-off: 14.00 (14.00 GMT; 03.00, Monday, November 25 NZ time)

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Greg Garner (England)

TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

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