Sua’ali’i fit for Australia as Irish retain Prendergast at 10 and set to give Healy record cap
Sua’ali’i fit for Australia as Irish retain Prendergast at 10 and set to give Healy record cap
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, right, watches his team during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii reacts after the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
FILE - South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit, left, battles for the ball with Ireland’s Cian Healy, second from right, and his teammate, Finlay Bealham, during a rugby test match between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban, South Africa, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
Ireland’s Cian Healy, left, with teammates celebrate at the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and Argentina, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, right, watches his team during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, right, watches his team during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii reacts after the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Australia’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii reacts after the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Australia in Edinburgh, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
FILE - South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit, left, battles for the ball with Ireland’s Cian Healy, second from right, and his teammate, Finlay Bealham, during a rugby test match between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban, South Africa, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
FILE - South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit, left, battles for the ball with Ireland’s Cian Healy, second from right, and his teammate, Finlay Bealham, during a rugby test match between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban, South Africa, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
Ireland’s Cian Healy, left, with teammates celebrate at the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and Argentina, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Ireland’s Cian Healy, left, with teammates celebrate at the end of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and Argentina, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
DUBLIN (AP) — Code-switcher Joseph Sua’ali’i has recovered from injury to make Australia’s team for the rugby test against Ireland, which handed 21-year-old flyhalf Sam Prendergast a second straight start and is set to give Cian Healy a national record 134th cap.
Sua’ali’i came off holding his right arm just a half-hour into Australia’s 27-13 loss to Scotland last weekend that ended the Wallabies’ bid for a first Grand Slam of the home unions since 1984.
However, he was declared fit for the last match of Australia’s end-of-year European tour and will make his third start since a high-profile switch from rugby league last month.
Flyhalf Tane Edmed will be the 19th Wallabies debutant this year if he comes off the bench, while winger Harry Potter — a try scorer on debut against Scotland — drops to the reserves as Max Jorgensen returns.
Prendergast made his Ireland debut off the bench against Argentina two weeks ago, and his first start for his country against Fiji last weekend. He kept his place at No. 10 against most expectations, ahead of Jack Crowley, who started against New Zealand and Argentina.
Healy will break a tie on 133 caps with Brian O’Driscoll should he come off the bench in Dublin. The 37-year-old prop made his debut against the Wallabies in 2009.
“Cian is a giant of Irish rugby,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell said, “and we are determined to provide him with a performance that he deserves.”
Australia opened its tour by beating England and Wales before fading against the Scots.
“It’s been a challenging year where we have grown a bit as a squad,” said Australia coach Joe Schmidt, who used to lead Ireland, “and we have an opportunity to challenge ourselves again against what is a settled and cohesive Ireland team.”
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Lineups:
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph Sua’ali’i, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby