Ireland make six changes for Australia Test

(GETTY IMAGES)

Ireland have made six changes to the starting line-up that was soundly beaten by the All Blacks 10 days ago ahead of Saturday's one-off Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Number eight Chris Henry has been handed his first cap for the tourists in the absence of suspended team-mate Jamie Heaslip.

Henry will form a new-look back-row alongside Niall Ronan and Shane Jennings, who replaces the injured John Muldoon (broken arm) and David Wallace, who is absent on paternity leave.

In the only other change to the pack, tighthead prop Tony Buckley comes in for John Hayes who has been left out of the match-day 22.

In the backs, Jonathan Sexton's outstanding display in last Friday's narrow loss to New Zealand Maori was enough to earn him the number 10 jersey at the expense of Ronan O'Gara.

Inside centre Paddy Wallace also did enough as part of a second string Ireland side against the Maori to force his way back into the Test line-up ahead of Gordon D'Arcy.

Meanwhile, Rhys Ruddock and Damien Varley are in line to make their Test debut's after being named on the bench for the tourists.

Team: Kearney (Leinster); Bowe (Ospreys), O'Driscoll capt (Leinster), Wallace (Ulster), Trimble (Ulster); Sexton (Leinster), O'Leary (Munster); Healy (Leinster), Cronin (Connacht), Buckley (Munster), O'Callaghan (Munster), O'Driscoll (Munster), Ronan (Munster), Jennings (Leinster), Henry (Ulster).

Replacements: Varley (Munster), Court (Ulster), Tuohy (Ulster), Ruddock (Leinster), Reddan (Leinster), O'Gara (Munster), Murphy (Leicester).