Connacht’s finest are front and centre. Mack Hansen will start at full-back and Bundee Aki is back in the centre as Ireland take on Fiji at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night – with Tadhg Beirne leading the team out as captain on home soil for the first time.
Andy Farrell has made seven changes from last week’s 52-14 hammering of Argentina, but insists this is no second-string side. “I wouldn’t say it’s an experimental team by any stretch of the imagination, this is a good side that should perform on Saturday,” he said, according to the Irish Examiner.
The Connacht connection
Mack Hansen switches from the wing to full-back, with Hugo Keenan rested. “I think whatever position you see Mack play, he’ll just be himself. There are not many wingers that play like Mack does,” Farrell said.
Bundee Aki, now 36, is back after illness for his first Ireland start since last November’s defeat to South Africa. “It’s good to have him back,” said Farrell. The Galwegians and Connacht centre has 72 caps.
Why Beirne is captain
Dan Sheehan is following the 12-day return-to-play protocol for concussion after going off for a head injury assessment against Argentina. Rónan Kelleher starts at hooker, and Munster’s Beirne takes the armband.
Ireland team to face Fiji
Hansen; Baloucoune, Osborne, Aki, O’Brien; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; Ryan, Beirne (capt), Baird, van der Flier, Timoney.
Ulster’s James McNabney is on the bench and in line for his Ireland debut, with Farrell opting for a 5-3 bench split that includes Craig Casey, Ciarán Frawley and Stuart McCloskey, according to Extra.ie.
The match
- Kick-off: 8.10pm, Saturday 14 November
- Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Crowd: More than 46,000 tickets sold, according to the IRFU via Extra.ie
Fiji arrive after a heavy defeat to France in Lyon last weekend. Ireland beat them 52-17 the last time they met in Dublin in 2024.
Eyes on the Springboks
The real target is next Saturday, when South Africa come to the Aviva. Keenan, Robbie Henshaw, Sheehan and Joe McCarthy are expected back for that one, with Hansen returning to the wing, The Irish Times reported. After that, it’s the Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London.
Across Connemara, plenty of jerseys will be on show on Saturday night for the two Connacht men. Up the West.
Sources: Irish Examiner, The Irish Times, Extra.ie, RugbyPass.
Main image: Chris Curry / Unsplash
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