Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu to make Ireland debuts against Fiji
Gus McCarthy and Coramc Izuchukwu are to make their debuts for Ireland as they have been named to start against Fiji in the Aviva stadium on Saturday.
McCarthy will start at hooker, while Izuchukwu will start at flanker for Ireland, as Andy Farrell makes a number of changes from the side who defeated Argentina.
McCarthy has been exposed to plenty of rugby this season, due to injuries for Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher, and has impressed with both Leinster and Emering Ireland.
Having impressed with Ulster in the second half of last season, Izuchukwu has continued his from under Richie Murphy this season.
Sam Prendergast will makes his first start for Ireland at fly-half, having made his debut last Friday from the replacements.
He is joined by Craig Casey at half-back.
Bundee Aki comes back into the side to partner Robbie Henshaw in the centre, while Jacob Stockdale has been rewarded for his form with Ulster to start on the wing.
Jamie Osborne starts at full-back in place of Hugo Keenan, with Mack Hansen completing the back three.
On the replacements, Iain Henderson is back in the squad in the same week he signs a new contract with Ulster, while Cian Prendergast will hope to join his brother Sam on the pitch.
Ireland side to face Fiji: Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster).
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