Chris Henry will be the only Test debutant to start in Ireland’s meeting with Australia at Brisbane on Saturday after being selected in the backrow alongside Shane Jennings and Niall Ronan. The latter and Henry both started against the New Zealand Maoris last weekend, but Rhys Ruddock makes way for Jennings
Paddy Wallace and Jonathan Sexton are also retained from the 31-28 defeat, while Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Tomás O’Leary and captain Brian O’Driscoll all return.
Lock Mick O’Driscoll has recovered from a back injury and will partner provincial team-mate Donncha O’Callaghan in the secondrow.
The frontrow consists of Cian Healy, Seán Cronin and Tony Buckley.
Ruddock and Damien Varley are among the uncapped players on the bench, with Dan Tuohy, Tom Court, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara and Geordan Murphy also available on the sideline.
Robbie Deans has made two injury-enforced changes to his Australia side.
Adam Ashley-Cooper replaces injured winger Digby Ioane (shoulder), while in-form scrumhalf Luke Burgess returns at number nine in place of Will Genia (hand).
Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll believes his side has the ability to beat Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night but realises history will be against them as they chase their first win of the tour.
Ireland have not won a game on Australian soil since 1979 and have not tasted victory since beating Wales in March and will be facing a fired-up Australia side looking for redemption after losing by a solitary point to England at the weekend.
“We feel that we have the capabilities if we play to our strengths and play the way we know we can,” he said. “Needless to say it’ll be an extremely tough Test match, it always is against Australia.
“We haven’t won since 1979 ... it’s a long time to not pick up a result and it just shows the difficulty we’ve had down here. But the next opportunity is the best one to take and try to overturn the slide of defeats.
“It’ll take a big effort, but I know the capabilities of this squad and team and it’s certainly within our grasp.”
Ireland coach Declan Kidney went with Sexton over O’Gara with an eye to the future and as a reward for good form.
“(Choosing the outhalf is) the same as it was for a number of positions. We’ve got a few players looking for places now,” said Kidney.
“We felt it was an opportunity to give Jonathan this run, he’s been playing well so I just decided to go with him this time.”
Sexton, who kicked an impressive 23 points against the Maori, will be opposed by a red-hot Quade Cooper for Australia, but his captain believes he has the skill and style to take the game to the vaunted Wallabies backline.
“(Sexton’s) basics are very good, he’s a big physical guy and he’s a smart footballer too,” said O’Driscoll.
“He’s nice to play outside of, because he’s a nice passer of the ball and he probably has the mindset of trying to run the ball wherever possible.”
For Henry selection has come on the back of impressive performances for Ireland A in 2009, and marks the fulfilment of a childhood dream for the Ulster skipper.
He said: “It means everything. Since I was a youngster it was something I dreamed of. It’s been an exciting week and I can’t wait to get on the pitch and throw myself into the game.
“You always fantasise about it when you’re young and watching the teams, so it’s definitely a big dream come true and it means a lot to myself and my whole family. Hopefully it’ll be a special day and one I’ll always remember.”
Australia (v Ireland):J O'Connor; D Mitchell, R Horne, M Giteau, A Ashley-Cooper; Q Cooper, L Burgess; B Daley, S Faingaa, S Ma'afu, D Mumm, N Sharpe, R Elsom, D Pocock, R Brown.
Replacements:H Edmonds, J Slipper, M Chisholm, M Hodgson, J Valentine, B Barnes, K Beale.
Ireland:R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, P Wallace, A Trimble; J Sexton, T O'Leary; C Healy, S Cronin, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; N Ronan, S Jennings, C Henry*
Replacements:D Varley*, T Court, D Tuohy, R Ruddock*, E Reddan, R O'Gara, G Murphy (Leicester)
* denotes uncapped player.