Sam Prendergast's impressive finish to the season with Leinster has earned him a place in Ireland's starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney. The 23-year-old fly-half lost his Six Nations spot to Jack Crowley, but with Crowley injured, Andy Farrell has turned to Prendergast after his role in Leinster's United Rugby Championship triumph.

Jamie Osborne gets his chance on the left wing with Tommy O'Brien unavailable and James Lowe departing Irish rugby. In the forwards, Tom O'Toole starts at loose-head prop as Farrell deals with injuries to Andrew Porter, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy. Stuart McCloskey returns from a hamstring problem to partner Garry Ringrose in midfield, while Tadhg Beirne can only make the bench.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has recalled Jock Campbell at full-back for his first Test since 2022, with James Slipper reversing his retirement to provide loose-head cover. The Wallabies feature a new half-back combination of Carter Gordon and Ryan Lonergan. Ireland captain Caelan Doris misses out along with Porter, forcing Farrell's hand in selection.

Dan Sheehan captains from hooker alongside Tadhg Furlong and O'Toole in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan forming a familiar second-row partnership. This opening test will reveal whether Ireland's reshuffled lineup can handle Australia's physical challenge ahead of fixtures against Japan and New Zealand.