IRELAND will be without two of their leading forwards, veteran prop Peter Clohessy and lock Jeremy Davidson, for Sunday’s World Cup match against Australia at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. Ireland coach Warren Gatland has decided not to risk the players, who have been carrying niggling back injuries following the 53-9 win over the USA in their opening match last Saturday. Clohessy has been replaced by 20-year-old Justin Fitzpatrick while Malcolm O’Kelly comes in for Davidson. Meanwhile, Matt Cockbain has been ruled out of the Wallaby team after suffering a knee injury while warming-up before Australia’s opening win over Romania. Mark Connors will replace Cockbain.
Ireland:
Conor O’Shea; Justin Bishop, Brian O’Driscoll, Kevin Maggs, Matt Mostyn; David Humphreys, Tom Tierney; Dion O’Cuinneagain (capt), Andy Ward, Trevor Brennan, Malcolm O’Kelly, Paddy Johns, Paul Wallace, Keith Wood, Justin Fitzpatrick. Replacements: Jonathan Bell, Eric Elwood, Brian O’Meara, Eric Miller, Jeremy Davidson or Robert Casey, Peter Clohessy, Ross Nesdale.