Irish Rugby | Farrell names Ireland squad to face Fiji at Aviva Stadium

Head coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Men’s Match Day Squad for Saturday’s sell-out Fall Nations Series clash against Fiji at the Aviva Stadium (Kick-off at 3.10pm).

Farrell has included two uncapped players in his starting squad for Fiji’s visit to Dublin, as the Leinster hooker and former Ireland U20 Grand Slam-winning captain Gus McCarthy gets a debut in the front row, while Ulster back row Cormac Izuchukwu has been selected to start at blindside flanker for his first cap.

After an impressive cameo from the bench in the win over Argentina last week, Jamie Osborne has been named at full-back for his first start in green at the Aviva Stadium, where he joined Mac Hansen and Jacob Stockdale in Ireland left three.

Robbie Henshaw starts at outside center and is joined in midfield by Bundee Akiwhile Sam Prendergast is set for his first Test start in a half-back pairing with Craig Casey.

In the package, Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham is either side of uncapped hooker McCarthy, who was initially named in the Autumn Nations Series squad as a training panelist but has impressed Farrell and the coaching staff during the warm-weather training camp in Portugal and over the last two matchweeks in Dublin.

Joe McCarthy continues in the second row and is joined by Tadhg Beirnewho moves forward from the back row, allowing Izuchukwu to come in for his debut in six years after being a member of the Summer Tour squad to South Africa and the recent Emerging Ireland Tour.

The 24-year-old has plenty of experience alongside him in the Irish back row as Josh van der Flier is named by openside and captain Caelan Doris at number eight to complete the starting XV.

On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson and Cian Prendergast provide the forward options for Farrell, while Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Stuart McCloskey are the backline substitutions.

Andy Farrell said ahead of Saturday’s game: “There were signs of improvement last weekend and this week has been about building and embracing the challenge of a talented high-flying Fijian side who will come over to Dublin full of confidence after their recent displays.

“On Saturday we welcome two more new debutants and I am delighted for Cormac and Gus who have impressed with their work rate and application over recent weeks and months. They have both performed strongly for their provinces, brought the good shape into the latest Emerging Ireland Tour and are now being rewarded for their efforts.We wish them the best of luck as they take these exciting next steps in their careers.”

Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One (Republic of Ireland) and TNT Sports (UK), while live radio commentary is available on RTÉ Radio 1.

Ireland (vs Fiji):

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(4)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht) (23)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(75)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(58)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(37)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(1)
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(16)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(68)
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)*
3. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(44)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(14)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(54)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(66)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(45)(Captain)

Substitutions:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(35)
17. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(14)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(1)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(82)
20. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(3)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(119)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(7)
23. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(18).