Ireland have dumped British and Irish Lions halfback Conor Murray among two shock selections for Sunday morning’s (AEDT) rugby union Test against the Wallabies.
New Kiwi-born coach Joe Schmidt has swung six changes to the starting team which beat Samoa 40-9, including the promotion of Eoin Reddan to the No.9 jersey for Murray.
Murray produced an influential cameo for the Lions in the series-deciding third Test in Sydney as the tourists scored three second-half tries for a 41-16 thumping of Australia.
But Reddan’s slick ball distribution and greater experience alongside five-eighth Jonny Sexton in a Leinster-dominated outfit has been preferred.
Schmidt also surprised by selecting youngster Luke Marshall at inside centre instead of veteran No.12 Gordon D’Arcy, who was dumped from the squad altogether.
As expected, Lions big guns Sexton, Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy were all returned to the starting side after being rested against Samoa.
Schmidt, who previously turned Leinster into a European club giant, selected 10 of his former players in the starting team, including Sexton who has just moved to Racing Metro in France.
The Wallabies made two personnel changes to the starting pack which beat Italy 50-20 in Turin last week.
Scott Fardy returns to the back-row in a move which sees Rob Simmons swicth back to the second-row while Sekope Kepu replaces Ben Alexander at tight-head prop.
Ireland: Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden, Jonny Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Paul O’Connell, Devin Toner, Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy. Res: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Stephen Archer, Mike McCarthy, Kevin McLaughlin, Conor Murray, Ian Madigan, Robbie Henshaw.