Australia name team to face Ireland on Saturday and there are four changes

Australia coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to the side defeated by France last weekend for Saturday's visit to the Aviva.

Winger Henry Speight will make his Test debut for Australia , with the 26-year-old set to become the the third player to make his debut for Australia on this Autumn Tour.

The three other changes see lock Sam Carter, backrow Luke Jones and centre Matt Toomua come into a starting fifteen which boasts 488 games of Test experience.

Neither Will Genia, Quade Cooper or Kurtley Beale are named to start the game.

Gives them an opportunity

Following the announcement of the team this morning Cheika said that "all four changes will bring a new energy into the team and I know everyone is looking forward to the opportunities our match against Ireland will bring."

“Henry (Speight) has done all the right things to earn his selection, has had an outstanding Super Rugby season and deserves his opportunity to play for Australia.

“He is very passionate about representing Australia and we’re all looking forward to seeing him bring his best attributes to our game.

“The other changes have been made to give the other players who have been knocking on the door an opportunity to start a Test match on this tour.”

So far in the tour Australia have had an entertaining 40-36 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham and a 33-28 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium, before going down 29-26 to France at Stade de France last weekend.

Australia team to face Ireland:

Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani1, Matt Toomua11, Henry Speight; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; James Slipper, Saia Fainga'a, Sekope Kepu; Sam Carter, Rob Simmons; Luke Jones, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman.

Replacements (three to be omitted):

James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale.