Flyhalf James O’Connor and centre Len Ikitau will start for the Wallabies against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Ikitau will reignite his partnership with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the pair featuring alongside each other in the midfield for 12 of the Wallabies last 16 Tests.

O’Connor will start in the No 10 jersey for his first Test in the northern hemisphere since 2021, linking up with Waratahs captain Jake Gordon who is again selected at scrumhalf.

Twenty-one-year-old fullback Max Jorgensen and winger Filipo Daugunu have also been selected to start in Dublin, joining Harry Potter in the back three.

The experienced Allan Alaalatoa is another who returns to the starting XV, where he will combine with hooker Matt Faessler and Angus Bell in the run-on front row.

In another reshuffle in the forwards, Tom Hooper shifts to lock with Rob Valetini starting at blindside flank. Hooper will partner Jeremy Williams in the second row, while openside flanker Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson complete the loose trio.

TEAM: Hansen at fullback on Ireland return

“It’s been a tough schedule but we’ve tried to embrace that this week and tried to freshen up at the same time,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. “It’s another opportunity this Saturday to really challenge ourselves against one of the top teams in the world.”

WALLABIES – 15 Max Jorgensen, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Bench: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway.

Weekend teams

Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images