Munster’s Kilcoyne makes cameo appearance in Ireland set-up

Ireland look set to mix up selection for the series-deciding third Test against Australia as Joe Schmidt assesses some bruised and battered bodies for the final game of the season on Saturday.

Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne joined Ireland training at the North Sydney Oval yesterday ahead of the third and final Test as fellow loosehead prop Cian Healy continues to recover from a shoulder problem.

Forwards coach Simon Easterby said Kilcoyne, 29, whose 22nd Ireland cap came off the bench against Argentina last November, was not an official member of the tour squad but it is difficult to imagine his arrival in Sydney is not unconnected to Healy’s AC joint problem that forced his 46th-minute withdrawal from the second-Test victory over the Wallabies in Melbourne last Saturday.