Schmidt playing the long game with Ireland pick

NOVEMBER INTERNAIONAL:

Murray, along with centre Gordon D’Arcy, were the high-profile omissions yesterday as Schmidt made six changes to the side that won 40-9 over Samoa in his first game as national team boss last Saturday.

Paul O’Connell returns to the starting line-up as captain, replacing Mike McCarthy at lock having made his comeback from a calf injury as a substitute against Samoa. Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien made similar reappearances and will now start against the Wallabies while fly-half Johnny Sexton resumes, after he was rested last weekend.