Rugby World Cup Match Preview - Ireland vs Australia
Ireland and Australia go into their second pool C game on the back of wins as Australia were rampant against a sorry Italy while the Irish staggered past a resilient USA. The winner of this tie will more than likely win the group and play the likes of Wales, Fiji or Samoa in the quarter finals. Ireland's record against the Wallabies doesn't look good reading as they have played them 29 times but only beaten them eight but games between the two have been close encounters of late so anything can happen.
Declan Kidney looks to have fielded his strongest 15 as he makes four changes to the side that beat the Eagles last time out at the Taranaki Stadium. Sean O'Brien, Rob Kearney, Cian Healy and Eoin Reddan are all brought in for this encounter with O'Brien returning from a knee injury which has kept him out the side since August. Kearney has recovered from a groin strain and replaces Geordan Murphy at full back and prop Healy is back also after suffering an eye injury in their defeat to England three weeks ago. Questions are still being asked of Kidney as to who he thinks is his strongest pairing at nine and 10 as it is the sixth consecutive test he has named different people, but the Irish manager feels comfortable with the side he has put out.
As for Australia, Robbie Deans recalls James O'Connor for the clash after his impressive performance coming off the bench last time out scoring a try and kicking three conversions. He replaces the injured Digby loane out on the wing and also takes up kicking duties from Quade Cooper. Deans also welcomes back Drew Mitchell to the match day 22 after recovering from a serious ankle injury he picked up back in April against the Reds. The Waratahs flyer will be warming the bench.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Conor Murray, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Andrew Trimble.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Ben McCalman, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (capt), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Drew Mitchell.
