Ireland v Australia: Centre Stuart McCloskey keeps Irish place with Bundee Aki on bench

McCloskey won his eighth Ireland cap in the win over Fiji

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey has retained his place in the Ireland team for Saturday evening's match against Australia in Dublin.

McCloskey is selected ahead of Bundee Aki, who is among the replacements on his return from suspension.

Irish captain Johnny Sexton returns, as expected, after missing last weekend's victory over Fiji with a dead leg.

Jimmy O'Brien is named on the wing following strong performances in the wins over South Africa and the Fijians.

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Australia coach Dave Rennie has made 10 changes from their shock defeat in Italy with prop Allan Alaalatoa, centres Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau, and wings Tom Wright and Mark Nawaqanitawase the only players retained from the Florence game.

Scrum-half Nic White and fly-half Bernard Foley will resume their half-back partnership in a side captained by veteran prop James Slipper while a familiar back row sees Jed Holloway linking up with Michael Hooper and Rob Valetini.

Lock Nick Frost has shaken off illness and a minor ankle issue to partner Brumbies team-mate Cadeyrn Neville in the second row.

For Ireland, O'Brien switches to the left wing after playing at full-back against Fiji and at centre when he replaced McCloskey early on against world champions South Africa, while Sexton will take over from the injured Joey Carbery at fly-half.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell said McCloskey had "earned the right to go again"

Ireland coach Andy Farrell said McCloskey had "earned the right to go again".

"The fiirst game was a bit different and second game was a bit different again. And we are hoping to get a better performance against a different side in Australia and one that suits Stu as well."

Former Australia under-20 Mack Hansen will play on the right wing as he faces the country of his birth for the first time after switching allegiance from Australia to Ireland.

Connacht centre Aki is returning from a seven-week suspension following his red card in the United Rugby Championship in September.

Farrell has made eight changes in total to the starting XV that defeated Fiji 35-17 at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday.

Hugo Keenan takes over at full-back and Garry Ringrose comes back in at centre in place of the injured Robbie Henshaw, with Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan named in the front-row alongside last week's captain Tadhg Furlong.

James Ryan returns to the second row and there are two changes in the back row, with Josh van der Flier and Peter O'Mahony coming back in and Caelan Doris switching to number eight.

Lock Joe McCarthy could be in line to make his senior international debut after he is named on a replacements bench that includes the experienced Cian Healy, Jack Conan and Rob Herring. Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune drops out of the squad.

'Australia have their leaders back'

Ireland coach Farrell is expecting a backlash from the Wallabies and a display more akin to their performance in the one-point defeat by Six Nations champions France a fortnight ago.

"They get the leaders back in the room, so there is a different vibe there from the start," said Farrell.

"Those guys are the ones that took the field against Scotland and came so close to winning in Paris. Like we've said all week, we know how difficult that is."

Farrell's counterpart Rennie says his squad "were all bitterly disappointed" by the Italy defeat and is expecting a much-improved display.

"We're better than that and we need a response against Ireland on their home deck," added the Australia coach.

Saturday evening's match at the Aviva will complete Ireland's Autumn Nations series which began with a 19-16 win over world champions South Africa.

Saturday will be the Wallabies' first return to Dublin since 2016, when Ireland survived a second-half rally to secure a 27-24 victory.

Ireland: Keenan, Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, O'Brien, Sexton, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, Healy, Bealham, McCarthy, Conan, Casey, Crowley, Aki.

Australia: Kellaway, Nawaqanitawase, Ikitau, Paisami, Wright, Foley, White; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Neville, Holloway, Hooper, Valetini.

Replacements: Fainga'a, Robertson, Tupou, Skelton, Samu, Gordon, Lolesio, Petaia.