Declan Kidney has made four changes to the side that struggled to overcome the USA on Sunday for the pivotal game in Pool C, against Australia in Auckland on Saturday. He has resisted the claims of Ronan O'Gara to return at No10 where Jonny Sexton struggled in New Plymouth, compounded by a poor kicking return of four from six.

Three of the four changes see fit-again players resuming their places: Rob Kearney, whose groin strain kept him out last weekend, takes over from Geordan Murphy, who has a tight hamstring in any case; Cian Healy comes back for Tom Court at loosehead; and Sean O'Brien is at openside for Shane Jennings.

Healy damaged an eye socket in the warm-up game against England three weeks ago and O'Brien, who strained a knee ligament, has not played since the France game the week before that.

The only straight selection call sees Eoin Reddan displace Conor Murray at scrum-half. Murray did well against the USA in what was his first start, having come off the bench against both France in Bordeaux and England in Dublin, but Kidney has gone for greater experience there against the Wallabies, for whom the scrum-half Will Genia runs the show.

Elsewhere Keith Earls will be considered fortunate to have survived the challenge of Andrew Trimble, who is one of the few Ireland backs with current form. Trimble started both the last two warm-up games but was passed over for the World Cup opener last weekend.

Ireland team to play Australia R Kearney; T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, K Earls; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Best, M Ross, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Ferris, J Heaslip, S O'Brien.

Replacements J Flannery, T Court, D Ryan, D Leamy; C Murray, R O'Gara, A Trimble.