The future of John Hayes in the Ireland Test side looks in peril after the veteran prop was left out of the match-day 22 for Saturday’s clash with Australia.
A virus caused Hayes to miss the 66-28 humbling by New Zealand ten days ago but he came on as a replacement in the defeat to New Zealand Maori on Friday.
However, he has been left out of Declan Kidney’s squad for this weekend’s game in Brisbane, with Tony Buckley preferred at tight-head after his impressive showing against the All Blacks.
There are three changes to the pack from that game in New Plymouth, with all of them coming in the back row: Niall Ronan, Shane Jennings and Chris Henry replace David Wallace (paternity leave), John Muldoon (injury) and Jamie Heaslip (suspension).
The other two changes to the side which started against New Zealand see Paddy Wallace replace Gordon D’Arcy in the centre and Jonathan Sexton preferred to Ronan O’Gara at out half.
For Ulster number 8 Henry, who has played in non-cap internationals against the Barbarians and the Maoris in recent weeks, the game will mark his first Test start, while two more forwards are in line for their first caps from the bench: Munster hooker Damien Varley and Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock.
Jerry Flannery has failed to recover from the calf injury he aggravated in the defeat to the Baa-Baas three weeks ago.
Ireland team (v. Australia): Kearney (Leinster); Bowe (Ospreys), O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt.), Wallace (Ulster), Trimble (Ulster); Sexton (Leinster), O’Leary (Munster); Healy (Leinster), Cronin (Connacht), Buckley (Munster), O’Callaghan (Munster), O’Driscoll (Munster), Ronan (Munster), Jennings (Leinster), Henry (Ulster).
Replacements: Varley (Munster), Court (Ulster), Tuohy (Ulster), Ruddock (Leinster), Reddan (Leinster), O’Gara (Munster), Murphy (Leicester).
