Cian Healy is ready to turn into Eire’s all-time main caps holder once they host Australia of their ultimate Check of the yr on Saturday in Dublin.
The veteran prop has been named on the bench and can make his 134th worldwide look if referred to as upon, surpassing Brian O’Driscoll’s document within the course of.
Elsewhere, Sam Prendergast is retained at fly-half having made his first begin towards Fiji final week, with Jack Crowley among the many replacements.
“Cian is a giant of Irish rugby and we are determined to provide him with the performance he deserves,” Eire coach Andy Farrell mentioned.
Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park all come into the backline for the go to of Australia, who’re led by former Eire head coach Joe Schmidt.
Eire might be carrying a particular package to commemorate the workforce’s a hundred and fiftieth anniversary as they appear to shut out the yr with a victory.
It should even be Farrell’s final sport earlier than he briefly vacates his head teaching function to take up the identical place with the British and Irish Lions for subsequent yr’s tour to Australia.
In that sense, Saturday’s sport in Dublin might be an opportunity for counterparts Farrell and Schmidt to evaluate one another forward of that three-Check sequence, having beforehand labored collectively on the Eire teaching ticket.
Eire opened their autumn marketing campaign with a disappointing loss to New Zealand however have since recorded wins over Argentina and Fiji, whereas Australia beat England and Wales earlier than coming unstuck towards Scotland final week.
A lot of the Irish focus might be on two gamers at contrasting ends of their careers, with 21-year-old Prendergast handed the reins as Eire search their subsequent stalwart at fly-half.
Leinster again Osborne was pressured off throughout Eire’s victory over Fiji with a groin problem
Then there’s Healy who, at 37, will probably set a brand new benchmark for longevity at Check stage if he comes off the bench some 15 years after his Eire debut.
Within the beginning pack, Rónan Kelleher is available in at hooker regardless of Gus McCarthy’s spectacular exhibiting towards Fiji.
James Ryan will companion Joe McCarthy at lock, with Tadhg Beirne transferring to the again row to companion Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris.
In the meantime, code-switcher Joseph Suaalii has recovered from damage to begin for Australia.
The 21-year-old got here off holding his proper arm only a half-hour into Australia’s 27-13 loss to Scotland final weekend that ended the Wallabies’ bid for a primary Grand Slam of the house unions since 1984.
Eire: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (c).
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Harry Potter.
Watch each sport of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, together with all three Check matches towards the Wallabies, completely stay on Sky Sports activities.
