Four Munster players named to face Wallabies in series decider

Munster's Peter O'Mahony will again captain Ireland in their test decider against Australia on Saturday. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Irish head coach Joe Schmidt has named four Munster players in his side that faces Australia in the series decider in Sydney on Saturday.

Peter O’Mahony will again captain the side and is joined by Keith Earls, Conor Murray and CJ Stander in the starting lineup that faces the Wallabies.

Three other Munster men, Niall Scannell, John Ryan and new signing Tadhg Beirne are named among the replacements.

Ireland haven’t won a test series down under since 1979 and go into the final test in a good place after beating Michael Chieka’s Wallabies 26-21 in Melbourne last weekend. The series is currently tied at 1-1.

Schmidt has made five changes in all for the game in Sydney with Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki, Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Jack Conan all coming into the side.

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Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose and Dan Leavy drop out due to injury, while Cian Healy and Niall Scannell drop to the bench.

Stockdale’s return sees Earls switch from left to right wing to accommodate the Ulster winger. Rob Kearney remains in situ at full back.

Aki comes back into the inside centre position due to Ringrose’s absence and will be partnered by Robbie Hensaw at outside centre. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton remain at half back.

McGrath, Cronin and Tadhg Furlong are named in the front row with Devin Toner and James Ryan continuing their partnership in the scrum behind them.

O’Mahony and Stander move to openside and blindside flanker respectively with Conan coming into the team at number eight.

On the bench, Ross Byrne is set to make his international debut after getting the nod ahead of Joey Carbery to fill the backup out half position.

The game is televised on Sky Sports and has a 11:00am kickoff.

Ireland Team to play Australia

Rob Kearney (Leinster); Keith Earls (Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Johnny Sexton (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster); Jack McGrath (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Devin Toner (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster, capt), Jack Conan (Leinster).

Replacements: Niall Scannell (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jordi Murphy (Ulster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster).

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