Ireland interim head coach Paul O’Connell has included new caps Shayne Bolton and Alex Kendellen in his line-up for Saturday’s Test against Portugal in Lisbon (19:00 BST).
Connacht wing Bolton and Munster back row Kendellen will make their debuts from the start, while Connacht centre Hugh Gavin is set to earn his first cap off the bench.
Bolton replaces Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder in the 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week, while Kendellen comes in at open-side flanker for Nick Timoney, who drops out of the squad.
Six players made their Ireland debuts against Georgia: Tommy O’Brien and Darragh Murray started, while Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, and Ben Murphy came off the bench.
Jack Crowley will start at fly-half with Sam Prendergast, who scored 14 points against Georgia, not named in O’Connell’s 23-man matchday squad.
O’Connell opts for the same front row of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Tom Clarkson, while Munster’s Tom Ahern comes in for his first start in the second row alongside Darragh Murray, as Cormac Izuchukwu drops to the bench.
Connacht’s Cian Prendergast, who was forced to withdraw from last week’s game because of illness, starts at number eight.
“I have been really pleased with the attitude of the players over the last number of weeks,” said O’Connell.
“The dedication and diligence of the squad in testing conditions over in Tbilisi demonstrated the players’ willingness to embrace challenges and hopefully that bodes well again this weekend.”
Ireland: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, J Osborne, S McCloskey, S Bolton; J Crowley, C Casey (capt); J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson; T Ahern, D Murray; R Baird, A Kendellen, C Prendergast.
Replacements: T Stewart, M Milne, T O’Toole, C Izuchukwu, M Deegan, B Murphy, C Frawley, H Gavin.
