Ireland coach Declan Kidney has recalled Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton to his lineup to face New Zealand at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm) while Rob Kearney has been given the all clear to start at full-back.
There had been speculation that Peter Stringer would retain his place at scrum-half after performing well in the 20-10 win against Samoa on Saturday. O’Gara was also thought to be in the running to start this game after sparking a revival late in the game against South Africa and doing well against the Samoans.
But Kidney has chosen to bring back Leinster duo Sexton and Reddan, who played in the defeat South Africa in the first game of Ireland’s November Series. Stringer and O'Gara are named among the replacements.
The team features 11 changes in total from the one that lined out for the dour 20-10 victory over Samoa.
Tom Court is set to start at tighthead prop. The Ulster player lined out on the other side of the scrum against Samoa last week but shifts across.
Loosehead Cian Healy and hooker Rory Best come in to the starting lineup after making a difference to the scrum when they came on against the South Sea Islanders. John Hayes is selected on the bench.
Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan are the starting locks with David Wallace, Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip behind them in the back row.
Brian O’Driscoll will captain the side from the centre with Gordon D’Arcy alongside. Kearney has recovered from his hip problem to take his place at full-back.
Luke Fitzgerald and Tommy Bowe are the selected wings with Keith Earls among the subs.
Ireland Team (to play New Zealand, Guinness Series 2010, Aviva Stadium, November 20th, 17:30)
15 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
18 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
