Ireland vs Australia: Hansen and Prendergast start Ireland’s match against the Wallabies

Ireland have named the returning McHansen at full-back for their autumn international against Australia at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The 27-year-old was called up to the squad on Monday despite being deemed out of the autumn series due to a foot injury sustained during Connacht’s United Rugby Championship defeat to the Bulls last month.

Head coach Andy Farrell also gave Sam Prendergast the nod at fly-half ahead of Jack Crawley with center Stuart McCluskey returning after missing last week’s 41-10 win over Japan due to a thigh injury sustained in the loss to New Zealand in Chicago the previous week.

The starting side Farrell has selected to face the Wallabies shows nine personnel changes compared to the side that beat the Brave Blossoms in somewhat unconvincing fashion in Dublin.

Hansen, who featured in five of the British and Irish Lions’ tour matches this summer, has never started at full-back for Ireland, although his past four appearances for Connacht have been in that position.

But with Jimmy Osborne ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury in the win over Japan and No. 15 Hugo Keenan out injured, the former Brumbies man comes in to fill the role.

Crawley Munster started at fly-half for both the loss to the All Blacks and victory over Japan but Prendergast was preferred to start on this occasion as he prepares to win his 12th cap.

Saturday’s match against Australia will mark the one-year anniversary of the 22-year-old Prendergast’s debut for Ireland against Argentina.

Despite taking part in training this week, Gary Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are still absent with hamstring strain after also missing the match with Japan.

James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park have been restored to the starting line-up at the back, with strikers Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Coonan included, and captain Caelan Doris moved from No. 8 to the open wing.