Dempsey to replace out-of-sorts Murphy for Australia Test

GEORDAN MURPHY has been dropped from the Irish team to meet Australia at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday night, with Girvan Dempsey returning.

Dempsey, used as a replacement in the two Test games against New Zealand, wins his 66th cap ahead of the out-of-sorts Murphy. It’s the only change in the starting line up from the team beaten 27-17 by the All Blacks.

The Leicester player is retained in the squad of 22, but Jeremy Staunton is among the replacements, a clear sign that Eddie O’Sullivan has had a re-think about the possibility of using Murphy as cover for out-half Ronan O’Gara.