Rugby – Ireland v Australia:As expected Jerry Flannery is named in the starting line-up to take on Australia at Croke Park on Sunday (kick-off 3pm), while coach Declan Kidney has opted for Paddy Wallace at centre rather than Gordon D'Arcy who failed to make the match-day 22.
It was always going to be a close call for the centre role with the Ulster playmaker preferred to the experienced D’Arcy, who misses out as Jonathan Sexton and Keith Earls provide back cover on the bench.
Up front prop Cian Healy earns his first Ireland cap and will take his place alongside Flannery and John Hayes, whose IRFU suspension ends on Saturday.
Hayes will take his customary position at tighthead, just one day after completing a five-week suspension for raking his studs down Healy's face.
The offence occurred in Munster's 30-0 drubbing by Leinster on October 3rd, Hayes receiving a red card for the offence. Fast forward six weeks, and the combatants will become team-mates for the first time when Healy takes his Test bow as reward for his blockbusting provincial form.
The 22-year-old replaces Marcus Horan, who has been ruled out until January after undergoing an unspecified medical procedure.
"One of the great ironies of sporting life is that John took a sabbatical for a few weeks and now he's in to mind Cian!" said Declan Kidney.
"Cian has looked good all season. I wish Marcus well, but the two of them would have been battling for the position. Marcus' injury made the decision easier, but Cian had been playing well and merits selection in his own right."
Ireland, desperate to unearth some cover for the long-serving Hayes-Horan axis, will examine his debut closely - and Healy is determined to seize his chance.
"It's a dream come true - it's what I've wanted since I've been a child. It will be a special and unbelievable experience," he said.
"I was hoping for this but I didn't expect it to happen. It was just a case of trying my hardest for Leinster and seeing what happened. I've been told to play as myself and not to try and do anything I'm not comfortable with.
"I'll be nervous, but it's more 'enjoyable' nerves. It will be a tough few days, trying to sleep."
With Flannery declared fit, it means Connacht’s Sean Cronin will deputise from the bench, while John Fogarty will make the trip to Belfast to link up with the Ireland ‘A’ to take on Tonga at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Fogarty will join his brother Denis in Belfast with the latter to deputise for his sibling from the bench.
Today’s announcement shows 13 of those who started against Wales in the final Six Nations as Ireland went on to secure the Grand Slam for the first time in over 60 years.
D’Arcy and Marcus Horan, who is recovering from a medical procedure and won’t be available until after Christmas, are the players to miss out.
Australia coach Robbie Deans has made just one change to his starting line-up from the side that dispatched England at Twickenham.
David Pocock returns to the openside berth in the back row with George Smith dropping down to the replacements bench.
Pocock, who at 21 has already made 14 appearances for the Wallabies had featured against the All Blacks but made way for the more experienced Smith last weekend
Deans saw little scope to tinker with his selection elsewhere with Rocky Elsom captaining the side on his return to Dublin.
“The game in Ireland is on a massive high at the moment,” Deans said at this afternoon’s team announcement. “Ireland did the Grand Slam earlier in the year, while the country has also provided the last two European Cup winners.
“Getting a result last weekend was a great confidence booster for the whole squad, but we know that the standard we produced last week won’t be good enough against this Irish team.”
Ireland:Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Australia:Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies); Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs); Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies); James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies); Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain), David Pocock (Western Force), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
Replacements:Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (Western Force), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), George Smith (Brumbies), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), Ryan Cross (Western Force), James O'Connor (Western Force)
