Ireland conclude their 2022 Autumn Nations Series against Australia at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday (kick-off 8 p.m.), with a win giving them two 3/3 Autumns in a row.
The current winning momentum will need to be brought into the Six Nations, while last Saturday's dull performance against Fiji needs to be amended.
There is little point for much experimentation, with only a couple of positions where there is a strong argument for substantial change.
However, fringe players have shown their worth in recent weeks, and should be rewarded to keep up competitiveness within the squad.
Thus, a strong XV with change on the bench is the perfect balance to beat Australia, while giving valuable minutes and experience so a selection of deserving back-ups.
Front-Row: Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong
No point in experimenting here. The aim is to get minutes for these three at scrum-time, against top international opposition.
The bench options will get their fair share of game time, as is the nature of the front-row.
Second-Row: Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan
Given that Iain Henderson has played zero minutes thus far this season, a twenty minute cameo against the Wallabies will be the best port-of-call for the Ulsterman.
16 June 2018; Tadhg Beirne of Ireland of Ireland during the 2018 Mitsubishi Estate Ireland Series 2nd Test match between Australia and Ireland at AAMI Park, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Back-Row: Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris
Again, a victory over Australia continues Ireland's momentum, which they will look to carry into the Six Nations, and the back-row, as ever, will be crucial to ensuring a victory against Australia.
Josh van der Flier could well be a World Player of the Year nominee by the time the side is announced.
Half-Backs: Jamison Gibson-Park and Johnny Sexton
There is a big temptation to give Jack Crowley his first start in an Ireland jersey, as he creeps towards Joey Carbery and the back-up ten jersey.
Sexton was selected himself against the Springboks in 2009, for just his second Irish cap, following a superb performance against Fiji a week earlier. There are parallels with Crowley's situation, but the circumstances are different.
The hope is that Ireland will have built up a substantial lead, allowing Crowley to steer them home in the last fifteen minutes.
12 November 2022; Jack Crowley of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Fiji at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Centres: Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose
Robbie Henshaw is out and Bundee Aki is back. Andy Farrell, I feel, may opt for Aki to start alongside Ringrose with Jimmy O'Brien on the bench, but a Stuart McCloskey selection also makes sense.
We need to see more of the Ulsterman in an Irish shirt after his huge 27 minutes against South Africa. While he did play 80 minutes against Fiji, it was difficult to judge his performance given the overall flatness of the match and the standard of opposition.
Back-Three: Mack Hansen, Robert Baloucoune, and Hugo Keenan
The Irish back-line have struggled to unleash Baloucoune this Autumn Nations Series, and there is hope that this Australia game will provide us with further proof of the danger we have seen him pose at club level.
Similar to the outhalf situation, there is a temptation to further blood a back-up to Hugo Keenan. But, that winning momentum must be kept up, and the Leinster fullback is also behind in minutes this season.
Mack Hansen is also the fullback cover in this side. This could be a crucial option to have as it would allow Ireland to pick the likes of Crowley over Carbery, while having one of the 'big four' centres on the bench.
12 November 2022; Mack Hansen of Ireland gives teammate Joey Carbery a wet willy during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Fiji at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Bench: Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, and Bundee Aki
This is where the change should come for Saturday, with a few players deserving of a promotion.
Jeremy Loughman has warded off challenges from Josh Wycherley and Dave Kilcoyne at his province, while performing admirably during the games he has been given for Ireland and Ireland XV. Cian Healy's form has been average by his standards, and competition in the squad must be fostered.
For the same reasons Nick Timoney also makes the bench. His experience of playing across the backrow also helps, while Jack Conan has yet to regain his 2021 form.
Bundee Aki and Iain Henderson come into the 23 after lengthy lay-offs. Aki makes it ahead of Jimmy O'Brien, with Mack Hansen covering full-back and Garry Ringrose covering the wing.
Expect a big performance from Aki.
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