Sam Prendergast picked again as Ireland fly-half for Australia clash

Sam Prendergast has been retained at fly-half for Ireland’s autumn finale against Australia.

The 21-year-old, who made his maiden Test start in last weekend’s 52-17 win over Fiji, is selected ahead of Jack Crowley for Saturday’s match in Dublin.

Crowley has been his country’s first-choice number 10 since the retirement of Johnny Sexton but must be content with a place on the bench on his return to the match day squad after being rested last week.

Head coach Andy Farrell has made five personnel changes to his starting XV for the final fixture before his sabbatical to lead next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is back to partner Leinster team-mate Prendergast, while wing James Lowe and full-back Hugo Keenan come in for injured pair Jacob Stockdale and Jamie Osborne.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher and lock James Ryan are restored to the pack in place of last week’s debutants Gus McCarthy, who drops to the bench, and Cormac Izuchukwu.

Tadhg Beirne reverts to blindside flanker to accommodate Ryan in the second row.

In a match organised as part of Irish rugby’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which brings former Ireland boss Schmidt back to the Aviva Stadium, the hosts are seeking a third successive victory this month after bouncing back from defeat to New Zealand by beating Argentina and the Flying Fijians.

Cian Healy is poised to move ahead of Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s outright most-capped international after being named on the bench.

The 37-year-old prop, who made his debut against Australia in 2009, will make his 134th Test appearance, if he comes on.

Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw resume their midfield partnership, with Garry Ringrose among the replacements,