Niall Scannell back in the line of fire

Niall Scannell will be thrust into action from kick-off this morning, as Ireland bid to win a first Test series in Australia since 1979.

The Munster hooker was promoted from the replacements bench to the Ireland front-row, to face the Wallabies at Allianz Stadium, because Sean Cronin was ruled out overnight with a grade-one hamstring injury.

Rob Herring comes onto the bench to fill the back-up berth vacated by Scannell, whose Test debut against Italy, in February, 2017 had come in similar circumstances. Then, Rory Best had taken ill and had withdrawn from the team at the last minute.