Three changes Ireland should make for the final Test against Australia

Patrick McCarry

Following his side’s Second Test victory over Australia, Joe Schmidt was asked if getting a first international win Down Under in 39 years was a big achievement.

Schmidt looked non-plussed. This is not about winning a Test. This, for Ireland, is about winning a series.

Ireland left a series win in South Africa, two summers ago, that they should have returned home with. Schmidt is managing a squad of tired, battered bodies but he is determined to finish the Wallabies off now that this one is tied at 1-1.

Asked if losing the series 2-1, by falling in Sydney next weekend, would tarnish a Grand Slam season, Schmidt nodded sagely.

“Everything affects it. You are as good as your last game, I know that is a horrible cliché, but you are.

“That’s certainly how we felt after losing the first Test, it hurts. You don’t sleep too well, you run it over in your mind a few times, you watch it back a fair few times, and you try to find solutions to problems.”

Ireland are here to take the spoils so expect to see changes for the Sydney Test, but not too many. Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney and Peter O’Mahony may be asked to lace up one last time in their 11-month season of brutal attrition.

Expect to see three or four changes when Joe Schmidt names his Third Test team on Thursday. At a push, five.

Joey Carbery could come in at fullback and Schmidt may team up Bundee Aki with Robbie Henshaw but there will be a big temptation to keep the backline relatively intact.

Keith Earls has soldiered on through some big knocks but, should his hip pointer ease off, Andrew Conway deserves a longer outing in the 14 jersey. Over on the left wing, Jacob Stockdale returns and will seek to end his one-match try-scoring drought.

James Ryan is Ireland’s player of the series so far. If Ireland can squeeze any more from the 21-year-old, he may be retained. We would bring in the now blooded Tadhg Beirne and put him alongside Devin Toner, who was very good in Melbourne.

The final switch sees Jack Conan getting a start in the No.8 position. We are also going for a 6/2 split on the bench with the versatile John Cooney and Jordan Larmour the only backs.

That keeps Ireland close to full strength, with some fresh faces and big impact players like Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Iain Henderson and Stander ready to come on to, hopefully, finish the series on a high.

IRELAND

Rob Kearney

Andrew Conway
Garry Ringrose
Robbie Henshaw
Jacob Stockdale

Johnny Sexton
Conor Murray

Cian Healy
Niall Scannell
Tadhg Furlong

Devin Toner
Tadhg Beirne

Peter O’Mahony
Dan Leavy
Jack Conan