8 Munster Players In Ireland Squad

Eight Munster players have been included in the Ireland squad for Saturday’s clash with Australia at the Aviva Stadium in the final game of the 2014 Guinness Series.

Paul O'Connell captains the side on his 96th appearance for Ireland from the second row with Peter O'Mahony starting in the back row at 6.

In the backs, Conor Murray is named at scrum-half with Simon Zebo starting on the left wing. Dave Kilcoyne, Dave Foley, Tommy O'Donnell and Felix Jones are among the replacements.

The Ireland Coaching team have made three changes to the starting XV named for the opening game of the series against South Africa.

Rory Best will win his 78th cap and is joined in the front row by Mike Ross and Jack McGrath. Gordon D'Arcy is installed at inside centre with Robbie Henshaw moving to outside centre. Rhys Ruddock is named to start at openside in a backrow that also contains Jamie Heaslip and O'Mahony.

O'Connell is partnered in the engine room by Devin Toner.

The half-back combination of Murray and Johnny Sexton is retained from the South Africa game as is the back three of Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe and Zebo.

Sean Cronin, Kilcoyne and Rodney Ah You provide front row cover while Foley is rewarded for his man-of-the-match debut performance against Georgia with a place among the replacements.

O'Donnell covers the back-row while Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan and Jones will cover the inside and outside backs.

IRELAND v Australia (GUINNESS Series 2014, Saturday 22nd November 2014, 16:30, Aviva Stadium)
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 56
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 55
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 4
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 80
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 10
10. Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro) 46
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 29

1. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 11
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 77
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 43
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 19
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 95 (Captain)
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 24
7. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 4
8. Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster) 68

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 37
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12
18. Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3
19. Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 6
21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 57
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 12
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 8