Ireland will aim to finish their autumn internationals in style as they welcome Australia to Dublin on Saturday evening.
Victories over South Africa and Fiji have continued a sensational year for Ireland, adding to their historic summer tour series win over New Zealand, and Andy Farrell will be desperate to finish the autumn with a perfect record.
They face a wounded Wallabies side – literally, as they battle a slew of injuries, and figuratively, with a narrow opening win over Scotland having given way to a one-point loss to France and a first-ever defeat to Italy.
Farrell has brought his big guns back into the line-up after they were largely rested for the slightly underwhelming win over Fiji a week ago, and victory over a side that Ireland have beaten in four of the last five fixtures between the teams – albeit with the most recent contest coming in 2018 – will be the expectation in Dublin.
Follow the latest action from the autumn international between Ireland and Australia below, following the conclusion of England vs the All Blacks:
Ireland vs Australia
The teams are out on the Aviva Stadium pitch, with the anthems taking place now.
Ireland’s are favourites for this clash, and rightly so given their form this year. They have also won four of the last five games against the Wallabies, although the teams haven’t played since 2018.
Luke Baker19 November 2022 19:57
Australia team news
Australia make sweeping changes to their team after the shock loss to Italy a week ago, as only four of the starters from that 28-27 defeat remain.
Mark Nawaqanitawase, who debuted last week, keeps his place on the wing while the centre pairing of Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau also stay and Allan Alaalatoa plays again in the front row after captaining the Wallabies for the first time last week.
This week, James Slipper skippers the side in what will be his 126th Test and Andrew Kellaway moves back to full-back after playing on the wing in the opening two games of the autumn internationals.
Australia XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nic White, 1 James Slipper (captain), 2 Dave Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 6 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Rob Valetini
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Jordan Petaia
Luke Baker19 November 2022 19:54
Ireland team news – Johnny Sexton OUT!
Late team news as Johnny Sexton has been ruled out, with Jack Crowley now starting at fly-half and Ross Byrne on the bench. Peter O’Mahony will captain the side. It’s a huge loss for Ireland as their skipper and talisman won’t be playing.
Originally Andy Farrel had made seven changes to his side from the 35-17 victory over Fiji last weekend, as he returned to something close to his first-choice selection for the visit of the Wallabies.
Hugo Keenan is at full-back as Jimmy O’Brien switches to the wing and Mack Hansen moves from left to right in the back three.
Garry Ringrose is back in the No 13 jersey for the injured Robbie Henshaw, prop Andrew Porter and hooker Dan Sheehan come into the front row, James Ryan is at lock, as Josh van der Flier and Peter O’Mahony return to the back row with Caelan Doris switching from the blindside flank to No 8.
Ireland XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki
Luke Baker19 November 2022 19:51
Is Ireland vs Australia on TV today? Kick-off time and how to watch autumn international
Victories over South Africa and Fiji have continued a sensational year for Ireland, adding to their historic summer tour series win over New Zealand, and Andy Farrell will be desperate to finish the autumn with a perfect record.
Farrell has brought his big guns back into the line-up after they were largely rested for the slightly underwhelming win over Fiji a week ago, and victory over a side that Ireland have beaten in four of the last five fixtures between the teams – albeit with the most recent contest coming in 2018 – will be the expectation in Dublin.
Here’s everything you need to know about the clash:
Luke Baker19 November 2022 19:47
Ireland vs Australia
Right, hopefully you’ve caught your breath after that incredible drama at Twickenham…
There’s still more rugby to come this evening, a mouth-watering clash between No 1 side in the world Ireland and a wounded Australia – the perfect way to round off this day of autumn internationals. That kicks off in about 20 minutes’ time.
Luke Baker19 November 2022 19:42
F/T: England 25-25 New Zealand
Should England have played on at the end? Given where they were, a draw is perfectly commendable, but they had been tearing New Zealand’s 14-man defence asunder, and the All Blacks had just lost their best defensive scrum-half.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 November 2022 19:34
F/T: England 25-25 New Zealand
New Zealand will be wondering quite how they managed to throw that away. They switched off slightly after the Beauden Barrett drop goal, allowing England to make an immediate break that cost them both a try and a man when Barrett failed to fully release.
It looked at one stage like Ian Foster’s side were going to run away with it. Their winning run ends at six games, a mixed year concluding in fittingly odd fashion.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 November 2022 19:31
F/T: England 25-25 New Zealand
Where do you even start with that? England were pretty awful for 70 minutes, short of control and incredibly profligate in New Zealand territory, but struck thrice in the final ten minutes to snatch a remarkable draw. Will Stuart, making his first appearance of the autumn after injury, was the unexpected scorer of a vital double as the hosts came to life as they seemed to be nearing death’s door.
This was the Freddie Steward score that came between the two Stuart tries. How about that moment of dextrous genius from Dave Ribbans on just his second cap?
Harry Latham-Coyle19 November 2022 19:29
FULL TIME! ENGLAND 25-25 NEW ZEALAND
Harry Latham-Coyle19 November 2022 19:23
England 25-25 New Zealand, 80 minutes
Problems for New Zealand. TJ Perenara has tweaked an ankle and David Havili is on. They have no scrum half.
Can England capitalise? They take the restart…and Marcus Smith kicks into the stands!
Boos, big boos from the crowd – it’s a draw!
Harry Latham-Coyle19 November 2022 19:22