Prendergast brothers and Osborne start as five Kildare players named to face Australia
Sam and Cian Prendergast will start for Ireland for just the second time when they face Australia in Sydney. Photo: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named five Kildare players in the Ireland 23 for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against Australia.
Prendergast brothers, Cian and Sam, will start together in green for just the second ever time, with Jamie Osborne selected somewhat out of position on the left wing.
Sam Prendergast got the nod at ten ahead of Ciaran Frawley and will partner Jamison Gibson-Park at half back.
Cian Prendergast will wear the six shirt in a back-row combination with Josh Van Der Flier and Jack Conan.
Osborne, meanwhile, was ever-present for Ireland during the Six Nations and has since been a fixture for Leinster at centre, but now finds himself on the wing to cover for James Lowe moving to Japan and injuries to Tommy O'Brien and Mack Hansen.
Having not played since mid April, Tadhg Beirne has worked his way back for a place on the bench, where he is joined by Munster teammate, Jeremy Loughman.
Ireland kick off the inaugural Nations Championship in front of 42,500 at a sold out Allianz Stadium, with Dan Sheehan to captain the side in the absence of Caelan Doris.
Hugo Keenan; Rob Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Rónan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki.
