Ireland make change to test team

Ireland made one change to their starting line-up for the clash with the Wallabies at Perth on Saturday, with Girvan Dempsey installed at fullback in place of Geordan Murphy.

After giving New Zealand two troubling tests in two weeks before eventually losing both, Ireland play their last game of a largely successful season at Subiaco Oval in Perth.

The other change to the squad sees experienced Denis Hickie out of the 22, to be replaced by Jeremy Staunton.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said he was expecting a battle in the tackle as Ireland looked to nullify the Wallaby attack, while skipper Brian O'Driscoll said he rated the Australian backline as the best in the world at present.

Team: G. Dempsey, S. Horgan, B. O'Driscoll (captain), G. D'Arcy, A. Trimble, R. O'Gara, P. Stringer, D. Leamy, D. Wallace, N. Best, P. O'Connell, D. O'Callaghan, J. Hayes, J. Flannery, M. Horan.

Reserves: R. Best, B. Young, M. O'Driscoll, K. Gleeson, I. Boss, J. Staunton, G. Murphy.