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Autumn Internationals: Rory Best comes in at hooker for Ireland to play Australia in Dublin

Rory Best Ireland
Image: Rory Best: Hooker back for Ireland

Rory Best comes in at hooker for Ireland to play Australia in Dublin on Saturday.

The Ulster No 2 missed the Six Nations champions' first two victories of the autumn over South Africa and Georgia with a calf strain. 

Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy, who started at the Aviva Stadium last weekend in the 49-7 victory over Georgia, is again at inside centre with Connacht's Robbie Henshaw outside him in midfield.

D'Arcy missed the opening clash against the Springboks due to calf trouble but is retained with battering ram Henshaw becoming the third different player in as many games to wear the famous No 13 jersey vacated by Brian O'Driscoll after the successful Six Nations campaign.

"I don't know if you can ask too much more of Robbie," said Schmidt. "I thought he delivered a really solid performance against South Africa. It was very seamless, him moving into 12.

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"At 13 there will be some different challenges: Israel Folau will be coming into that area, there will be some traffic for Johnny (Jonathan Sexton), Gordon and Robbie to cope with.

"Robbie must also link with the wingers and that will be another challenge for him.

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"Robbie and Gordon spent a bit of time together when D'Arcy got back fully fit.

"They've had a little bit of time together, they've enjoyed two training sessions together this week, that's pretty much all we've had time to do.

"I'm just hoping they can feed off each other, connect and link really well, and make sure there's no space for some of those big Australian runners to come through.

"If they do that really well they'll have had a pretty good day at the office."

Best and D'Arcy were the only switches from coach Joe Schmidt's starting XV which impressively beat the Boks 29-15.

Best's Ulster team-mates flanker Chris Henry (brain injury) and centre Jared Payne (foot sprain) were not considered for selection.

Prop Mike Ross and wing Simon Zebo are the only two starters retained from last weekend's routine victory, with Ireland back to full strength to face Michael Cheika's Wallabies.

Former Leinster boss Schmidt warned Ireland they must fight for the right foundations before trying to launch the offloading game.

"I hope we get more ball than against South Africa: when you are struggling to win the ball and win collisions it's hard to get the offloading game going," said Schmidt. "Offloading only works when you're going forward.

"We've seen Robbie and Gordon get good balls away through the contact, so if that's something we can manufacture, get that front foot ball, then I'd be delighted if that allowed them to open up the game a little bit."

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney; 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Simon Zebo; 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best 3 Mike Ross; 4 Devin Toner, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt); 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Rhys Ruddock, 8 Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin 17 Dave Kilcoyne 18 Rodney Ah You 19 Dave Foley 20 Tommy O'Donnell 21 Eoin Reddan 22 Ian Madigan 23 Felix Jones

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