O'Sullivan sticks with pack for Aussie Test

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes for the clash with Australia to give his players the chance to restore their battered pride.

Andrew Trimble is the only new face in the team thrashed by New Zealand on Saturday, the Ulster centre making his Test debut in a backline which sees Anthony Horgan – who gave a nervy display against the All Blacks – drop out of the squad.

Lions back Shane Horgan moves to the right wing while Ulster’s Tommy Bowe takes the number 11 jersey, but the pack remains the same for the second match of Ireland’s autumn schedule.

O’Sullivan admitted he could have brought in fresh faces, especially in the pack where the tight five struggled, but believes more will be gained from giving his players another chance.

“The area I could have tinkered with was the pack. Our set-piece was good against New Zealand. We lost just one line-out but then got it back,” he said.

“And our scrum was solid. But we had a total of 16 set-pieces and they had 32, so they had twice as much ball as we did. That’s a problem you can’t do much about.

“The back row played very well. Denis Leamy had an exceptional game at number eight – the New Zealand management thought he was outstanding.

“As a unit this backline is our best shot. Andrew will bring something different to the midfield and we’ve retained Shane Horgan, who is also good with the ball, in the side.

“I could have made another couple of changes but I thought I’d give the team another crack. The boys who came on against New Zealand did well, so there is room to manoeuvre.

“But a raft of changes wouldn’t have done anything for the team. In our situation it was good to take a deep breath and look at our performance against New Zealand. We weren’t terrible, they were just outstanding.

“Our attack was good and we broke New Zealand a few times, but we lost our composure a bit and made some defensive errors. I think we can fix those.”

Trimble was pressing for inclusion against New Zealand following a hugely impressive start to the season but O’Sullivan felt the All Blacks would be too harsh a baptism for the 21-year-old.

“Andrew is ready for international rugby. He’s an outstanding player and his form has been exceptional,” he said.

“I thought New Zealand was not the best game to give him his first Test start but I had to use him this autumn and this is the best time.

“Defensively he’s strong. He’s very gutsy, quick and a good ball carrier who likes to take players on and run at them.”

O’Sullivan insisted he was happy with the performances of Shane Byrne and Malcolm O’Kelly last Saturday but hinted the veteran forwards may face the axe if they do not rediscover their best form.

“Shane had a very good game and Malcolm played solidly, his work-rate was right up there. Both guys haven’t played a lot of rugby recently,” he said.

“Another international gives them more opportunity to get into the groove. That’s part of the thinking to leave them in there.”

Australia were beaten 26-16 by England last Saturday and are desperate to avoid their eighth straight Test defeat – the worst sequence of results in their history.