Keith Earls will be the captain of Ireland for the first-ever time, while Stuart McCloskey and Michael Lowry from Ulster have been selected to begin Tuesday’s match against Maori All Blacks (08 05 BST).
Ulster’s Lowry makes the first tour start at full-back
McCloskey, who was called to the squad as injury coverage, replaces Bundee Akiti at the inside centre.
Andy Farrell is the head coach and has three modifications to the one he currently leads suffered a 32-17 defeat Hamilton, Maori on 29 June.
Jimmy O’Brien of Leinster is moved from full-back into left wing. This pushes Earls to the outside centre, replacing James Hume who sustained a devastating groin injury that ended his tour.
Farrell has, as expected, rested his top players in Saturday’s series final against New Zealand in Wellington.
The coach of Ireland said that he was not afraid to give the captaincy over to the 34-year-old wing Earls. He has never led Ireland in a 14 year, 97-cap career.
Farrell stated, “His standing in the group and his status are of the highest order. So that was an easy choice.”
“It was a great pleasure to ask him to do it. He is the best man to be captain of Ireland. He has been a leader for the past five to six years, and I have known him for that long.”
Niall Scannell will replace Dave Heffernan, an injured hooker, in the only midweek forward pack change. Prop Jeremy Loughman will also start after completing the 12-day return–to-play protocols.
Lock Kieran Trreadwell was the only player to start in Saturday’s Dunedin test, after he came off the bench as Ireland defeated New Zealand on Kiwi soil.
Farrell stated, “These men have had to wait until another chance and are busting for that.”
“The Maori beat us the night before and fully deserved it, so it’s an opportunity to show how much they have improved.
“They’ve had the opportunity to learn all those lessons and be more disciplined, more accurate, and understood what it takes for a big win.”
Ireland: Lowry; Larmour (capt), Earls, McCloskey, O’Brien, Frawley, Casey, Loughman, Scannell O’Toole McCarthy Treadwell Prendergast Timoney Coombes
Replacements: Herring, Byrne, Bealham, Baird, Conan, Murray, Carbery, Hansen.