Prendergast preferred to Crowley for Wallabies game

Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v Australia

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 30 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

Sam Prendergast has retained his place in the Ireland team for Saturday's concluding autumn Test against Australia as he is preferred at fly-half to Jack Crowley.

After making his debut as a second-half replacement for Crowley in the narrow win over Argentina two weeks ago, Prendergast earned his first Ireland start in last weekend's 52-17 victory over Fiji.

The 21-year-old overcame an early yellow card against the Fijians to produce a promising display which included five successful conversions and his cross-kick setting up a Mack Hansen try.

Leinster prop Cian Healy, who is named on the bench, is set to earn a record-breaking 134th cap after equalling Brian O'Driscoll's record in the Argentina game.

Ireland show five changes from last weekend with Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park taking over from Jamie Osborne, Jacob Stockdale and Craig Casey in the backs.

Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan's inclusions mean Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu, both of whom debuted against Fiji, drop out of the starting pack.

Ryan's selection means that Tadhg Beirne reverts to the back row while prop Cian Healy's inclusion on the bench means he is in line to become Ireland's most capped player of all time, beyond the joint record of 133 appearances he currently holds with Brian O'Driscoll.

"Cian is a giant of Irish rugby and we are determined to provide him with a performance that he deserves," said Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.

Farrell, who will temporarily step aside after Saturday's game to focus on his British and Irish Lions duties, has opted to retain Prendergast in the number 10 jersey.

Last weekend's game was the first time since the World Cup that Crowley had not started for Ireland.

The Munster player looked to have established himself as Johnny Sexton's successor but Prendergast, who has made only eight Leinster starts, is afforded the chance to tighten his grip on the jersey against a Wallabies side coached by former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt.

Prendergast will be accompanied in the half-backs by Leinster team-mate Gibson-Park, who was rested for the Fiji game.

Ulster wing Stockdale (hamstring) and Leinster full-back Osborne (abductor) were both unavailable for selection after sustaining injuries in the Fiji game.

Connacht's Bealham remains in the front row because Tadhg Furlong's continuing absence with a hamstring issue.

British and Irish Lions prop Furlong has missed Ireland's entire autumn campaign which began with a jolting defeat by New Zealand.

After having to work extremely hard to hold off the Pumas, Ireland looked more fluent in last weekend's win and Farrell said that he expected his players to produce their "best" display of the autumn against Australia.

"We have seen steady improvements over the last few weeks and the visit of a strong Wallabies presents another challenge for the squad," added Farrell.

"There has been a collective determination to drive forward and finish the Autumn Nations Series on a high."

Australia began their autumn games in encouraging fashion by following a dramatic opening win over England by comfortably overcoming Wales but Schmidt's side were beaten 27-13 by Scotland last weekend.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.