Ireland to face off against Wallabies

Ireland captain Keith Wood retains his place for today's Pool A World Cup showdown with Australia, with a quarter-final place against Scotland up for grabs.

Wood was emotionally and physically shattered after last weekend's victory over Argentina, but has been selected in coach Eddie O'Sullivan's strongest line-up.

Anthony Foley is back in the side, replacing the injured Victor Costello as one of only three changes. Two of them were injury enforced, while Ronan O'Gara edged the traditional battle for the fly-half jersey.

Alan Quinlan was forced out of the tournament with a dislocated shoulder and is replaced in the line-up by Australia-born flanker Keith Gleeson.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has resisted the temptation to select five-try hero Chris Latham and made just one change to his first-choice starting line-up for the match in Melbourne.

Latham broke the Australian Test record for tries in a match when he grabbed five against Namibia, but it was not enough to oust Mat Rogers from the full-back slot.

The only alteration to the team which played against Argentina in the tournament opener is at tighthead prop, where Ben Darwin has replaced Al Baxter.

Ireland: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, K Maggs, D Hickie; R O’Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, K Wood (captain), J Hayes, M O’Kelly, P O’Connell, S Easterby, K Gleeson, A Foley.

Replacements: S Byrne, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, E Miller, G Easterby, D Humphreys, J Kelly.

Australia: M Rogers; W Sailor, M Burke, E Flatley, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan; B Young, B Cannon, B Darwin, D Giffin, N Sharpe, G Smith, P Waugh, D Lyons.

Replacements: J Paul, A Baxter, D Vickerman, M Cockbain, C Whittaker, M Giteau, L Tuqiri.