Tadhg Beirne to captain Ireland for first time as Andy Farrell names side for Fiji clash

Mack Hansen is named at full-back, with Nick Timoney handed a chance at number eight.

SPECIAL HONOUR: Tadhg Beirne of Ireland with his daughter Penelope and wife Harriet after the Argentina game. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland against Fiji on home soil for the first time at Aviva Stadium on Saturday night as Andy Farrell moves Mack Hansen to full-back having resisted making sweeping changes for the Nations Championship clash.

There will be a potential Test debut for Ulster back-rower James McNabney with the head coach forced into a change with his starting No.8 as Nick Timoney switches from openside flanker to the base of the scrum and Josh van der Flier comes off the bench from last time out against Argentina to start at number seven.

This second Test match of four during the November window is the only competitive fixture against Tier Two opposition with only seven more between now and next summer’s pre-World Cup training camp and friendlies coming against world champions South Africa, at home on Saturday week, then a Nations Championship finals weekend play-off at Twickenham before the Six Nations campaign in the spring.

Yet the injury toll from last week’s opening-night victory over Argentina has limited the head coach from too much experimentation, Farrell instead opting for as much continuity and momentum as possible heading into the marquee clash with the Springboks.

Sean Jansen’s knee injury in the first half of the 42-12 win over Los Pumas has seen the Connacht back rower join fellow No.8s Caelan Doris and Jack Conan on the sidelines for the rest of this month, meaning a switch from openside flanker for Timoney as van der Flier regains the number seven jersey having come off the bench last weekend and been passed fit following an ankle knock.

Nick Timoney during an Ireland men's rugby squad training session. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Dan Sheehan’s concussion on 35 minutes and a subsequent 12-day stand down for return to play protocols means Ronan Kelleher also moves off the bench to start at hooker but Hansen’s switch from left wing to number 15 is unforced as last Friday’s man of the match Hugo Keenan is rested following his hat-trick heroics. 

Hansen impressed in a roving role against the Argentines in his first Test in 12 months and he provided the final pass to put in Keenan for the first of his three tries. 

That completed an excellent team build-up and his move to full-back perhaps gives Hansen even more scope to put his playmaking instincts to use as he dons the 15 jersey for the first time since facing Australia last November, when he scored a hat-trick.

Ireland's Mack Hansen will play at 15 this weekend. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho

Robert Baloucoune retains his place on the right wing having recovered from cramp with Tommy O’Brien taking over on the left edge. 

In midfield, Jame Osborne is introduced at outside centre alongside Bundee Aki, who missed last week’s match through illness having been named on the bench. Aki replaces Stuart McCloskey, who maintains his ever presence in Ireland matchday squads this year as the number 23. 

Jamison Gibson-Park returns at scrum-half in rotation with Craig Casey, one of many starters to impress last time out, as he resumes his partnership with fly-half Sam Prendergast.

The one other change to the starting line-up sees James Ryan promoted from the bench to second row alongside Beirne, who took over the matchday captaincy from Sheehan against Argentina, with Joe McCarthy rested.

McNabney, 23, joins Connacht lock Darragh Murray and front rowers Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole and Sam Illo as the forward replacements, with Casey, Ciaran Frawley and the aforementioned McCloskey providing cover behind them with plenty of versatility also within the starting backline from Hansen, Osborne and Tommy O’Brien.

The IRFU on Thursday reported that more than 46,000 tickets have now been sold for Saturday’s match with remaining tickets still available.

IRELAND (v Fiji): M Hansen; R Baloucoune, J Osborne, B Aki, T O’Brien; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong; J Ryan, T Beirne – captain; R Baird, J van der Flier, N Timoney.

Replacements: T Stewart, T O’Toole, S Illo, D Murray, J McNabney, C Casey, C Frawley, S McCloskey.