Farrell Set For Ireland Debut Against Fiji

Chris Farrell is set to make his Ireland debut with Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam also named in the starting XV for Ireland’s Guinness Series match against Fiji on Saturday (5.30pm).

CJ Stander and Ian Keatley are primed to make an impact off the bench for the clash.

Farrell is set for his international debut having made a very impressive start to life in Munster since joining from Grenoble in the summer. The imposing centre made a strong start to the campaign that has seen him score two tries in 10 appearances.

It will be a first international start for Sweetnam after the winger made his debut against South Africa last week and comes just over a year on from his sensational try in Munster’s clash with the Maori All Blacks (below).

Farrell lines up with Stuart McCloskey in a new look centre partnership as David Kearney returns to the side alongside Conway and Sweetnam to complete the back three.

Kieran Marmion will partner Joey Carbery in the halfbacks.

Up front Rhys Ruddock reprises his summer tour role as captain to lead the side. He is joined in the backrow by Jordi Murphy, who lined out for the Barbarians last week and Jack Conan.

Ultan Dillane joins Devin Toner in the engine room of the second row while Jack McGrath returns to duty in the front row where he is joined by Rob Herring and Andrew Porter.

James Tracy, who made his debut this time last year against Canada and Kieran Treadwell, who won his first cap on the summer tour are included in the replacements.

Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Stander and Robbie Henshaw are inlcuded from last week’s starting fifteen with Luke McGrath and Keatley completing the replacements.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v Fiji, Guinness Series 2017, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, November 18, 5.30pm)

15 Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 4 caps

14 Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution/Munster) 1 cap

13 Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster)*

12 Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/UIster) 1 cap

11 Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 16 caps

10 Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 5 caps

9 Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 17 caps

1 Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 41 caps

2 Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 2 caps

3 Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps

4 Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 10 caps

5 Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 51 caps

6 Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 17 caps Captain

7 Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 17 caps

8 Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 4 caps

Replacements

16 James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps

17 Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 71 caps

18 Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 17 caps

19 Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster) 2 caps

20 CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 16 caps

21 Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps

22 Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 5 caps

23 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 30 caps

*Denotes uncapped player