Ireland Braced For Fijian Physicality In Dublin As Farrell Names Exciting Squad

World number one ranked Ireland have rung the changes for their upcoming clash with South Pacific hard hitters Fiji.

Coming into the clash on the back of a very impressive 19 – 16 win over a physical Springbok side last weekend, Ireland enter the fixture as heavy favourites.

Not taking Fiji lightly, head coach Andy Farrell has named a strong side for the match whilst also giving a number of fringe players so much needed game time.

All-in-all Ireland have three potential debutants in the squad with Munster duo Jeremy Loughman and Jack Crowley and Connacht’s Cian Prendergast.

Loughman is starting in the front row alongside Captain Tadhg Furlong and Ulster Hooker Rob Herring.

Both Crowley and Prendergast will look to enter the fray from the bench.

Regular captain Jonathan Sexton is rested thus handing the captaincy reigns to Furlong for the first time in his distinguished career.

In Sexton’s place, Joey Carbery will be pulling the string at flyhalf and he is partnered by incumbent scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park who starts in place of the injured Conor Murray.

In the centres Stuart McCloskey is given another opportunity following an unfortunate injury that ended his time against the Springboks inside the first thirty minutes.

Joining McCloskey is British & Irish Lion Robbie Henshaw with the duo forming a jumbo-sized partnership aimed at countering the Fijian’s physicality.

Other changes include last week’s highly impressive debutant Jimmy O’Brien coming in at the more fullback position rather than centre where he played last week. Whilst Nick Timoney, Jack Conan and Kieran Treadwell all get the nod to start in the forward pack.

Ireland: Jimmy O’Brien; Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong (capt); Kieran Treadwell, Tadhg Beirne; Caelan Doris, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast, Max Deegan, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.

Your Ireland line up to face Fiji at a sold-out Aviva Stadium! ✊#TeamOfUs | #IREvFIJI

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 10, 2022