Ireland have named the returning Mack Hansen at full-back for their autumn international match against Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old was called into the squad on Monday despite being considered out of autumn series with a foot injury he picked up in Connacht’s United Rugby Championship defeat by Bulls last month.
Head coach Andy Farrell has also given Sam Prendergast the nod at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley with centre Stuart McCloskey returning after missing last week’s 41-10 win over Japan with a groin injury sustained in the loss to New Zealand in Chicago the previous week.
The starting team selected by Farrell to face the Wallabies shows nine personnel changes from that which saw off the Brave Blossoms in rather unconvincing fashion in Dublin.
Hansen, who featured in five of the British and Irish Lions tour matches this summer, has never started at full-back for Ireland, although his past four appearances for Connacht have been in that position.
But with Jamie Osborne ruled out after being forced off with a shoulder injury in the victory over Japan and regular number 15 Hugo Keenan also absent through injury, the former Brumbies player comes in to fulfil the role.
Munster’s Crowley started at fly-half for both the loss to the All Blacks and the victory over Japan but Prendergast has been preferred to start on this occasion as he prepares to win his 12th cap.
Saturday’s game against Australia will mark exactly one year since 22-year-old Prendergast’s Ireland debut against Argentina.
Despite taking some part in training this week, Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier remain absentees with hamstring strains after also sitting out the match with Japan.
James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park are restored to the starting XV among the backs, with forwards Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan drafted in and skipper Caelan Doris moving from number eight to openside flanker.
