As expected, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has made wholesale changes to his squad for Saturday’s opening game of the November Series.
Many of the team who vanquished New Zealand in Chicago at the weekend have been left out of the matchday squad, with eight uncapped players in the 23.
Three of those are starting, Garry Ringrose at outside centre, Jack O’Donoghue at number eight and Billy Holland in the second row.
3 new caps. Congratulations @billyholland @Ringrose_G Jack O'Donoghue #TeamOfUs #shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/TZdssvLbf1
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 10, 2016
After remaining in Ireland when the squad travelled to the US, Paddy Jackson returns to the starting 15 in place of Johnny Sexton.
Tiernan O’Halloran starts at full back with Keith Earls and Craig Gilroy on the wings.
Luke Marshall joins Ringrose in the centre with Kieran Marmion in the halfbacks alongside Jackson.
In the forwards, O’Donoghue is flanked by Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien and Ultan Dillane packs down beside Holland. Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Finlay Bealham make up the front row.
O’Mahony will captain Ireland in his first outing in a green shirt since the Rugby World Cup.
5 uncapped players on the bench #TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/JtPjcKLWT8
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 10, 2016
Dan Leavy, James Tracy, Luke McGrath, John Ryan and Niyi Adeolukun are all in line to make their first appearances from the bench.
Ireland team: 15. Tiernan O’Halloran, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Luke Marshall, 11. Keith Earls, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Kieran Marmion; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. Billy Holland, 6. Peter O’Mahony – captain 7. Sean O’Brien, 8. Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: 16. James Tracy, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. John Ryan, 19. Donnacha Ryan, 20. Dan Leavy, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. Niyi Adeolokun.
