Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll says his side have the ability to defeat the Wallabies on Saturday in Brisbane.

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll says his team can regroup from the hammering they received at the hands of the All Blacks by beating Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

History will be against the Irish as they chase their first win of the current tour and Ireland have also not won on Australian soil since 1979.

However, O’Driscoll is optimistic, even though the Aussies are likely to be fired up after their defeat by England.

“We have the capabilities if we play to our strengths,” said O’Driscoll.

“Needless to say it’ll be an extremely tough Test match, it always is against Australia.

“We haven’t won since 1979 … it’s a long time to not pick up a result and it just shows the difficulty we’ve had down here.

“But the next opportunity is the best one to take and try to overturn the slide of defeats.

“It’ll take a big effort, but I know the capabilities of this squad and team and it’s certainly within our grasp.”

Ireland will field just four players from the starting side that went down to New Zealand Maori on their last outing.

Niall Ronan is retained at flanker, number eight Chris Henry will make his Test debut, Paddy Wallace stays at inside centre, while most notably Jonathan Sexton will start at fly-half.

Sexton’s selection comes at the expense of the more experienced Ronan O’Gara, with coach Declan Kidney handing the Leinster pivot a start with an eye to the future and as a reward for good form.

The Leinster fly-half, who kicked an impressive 23 points against the Maori, will be opposed by a red-hot Quade Cooper, but O’Driscoll believes Sexton has the skill and style to take the game to the vaunted Wallabies backline.

“(Sexton’s) basics are very good, he’s a big physical guy and he’s a smart footballer too,” said O’Driscoll.

“He’s nice to play outside of, because he’s a nice passer of the ball and he probably has the mindset of trying to run the ball wherever possible.”

Playing outside Sexton in the number 12 jersey will be Paddy Wallace who, in a similar vein, has been selected at the expense of a more experienced rival in Gordon D’Arcy, and after a good showing against the Maori.

Henry’s selection has come on the back of impressive performances for Ireland A in 2009, and marks the fulfilment of a childhood dream for the Ulster skipper.

“It means everything. Since I was a youngster it was something I dreamed of,” said Henry.

“It’s been an exciting week and I can’t wait to get on the pitch and throw myself into the game.

“You always fantasise about it when you’re young and watching the teams, so it’s definitely a big dream come true and it means a lot to myself and my whole family.

“Hopefully it’ll be a special day and one I’ll always remember.”

Australia and Ireland have both named their starting line-ups for Saturday's Test in Brisbane.

Chris Henry will win his first cap for Ireland when he lines out at No 8 in the team to play Australia in Brisbane on Saturday evening.

Henry is one of four players including Paddy Wallace, Jonathan Sexton and back row Niall Ronan that are retained in the starting XV from Ireland’s last game against New Zealand Maori.

Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Tomas O’Leary and captain Brian O’Driscoll also return to the backline to play Australia in Suncorp Stadium.

In the forwards, Mick O’Driscoll is named in the second row after recovering from a back injury to partner Donncha O’Callaghan.

Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tony Buckley in the front row also return to the starting team.

In the replacements, Rhys Ruddock and Damien Varley are the other uncapped players in the match 22.

Meanwhile, the reinstallation of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess, in the places of the injured Digby Ioane and Will Genia, represent the only changes to the Wallabies starting line-up.

Ashley-Cooper returns on the left wing, after featuring from that position in the opening game of the season against Fiji, and then last weekend when he returned from an ankle injury during the second match against England.

Burgess, who won the Australian team’s internal Player of the Day award during his most recent Test outing against England at Perth two weeks ago, resumes in the number nine jersey after Genia broke his thumb in Sydney last weekend.

NSW Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale and Brumbies halfback Josh Valentine have both returned to the match night squad, taking the places of Ashley-Cooper and Burgess respectively from last week’s bench.

Despite two tough losses in their opening tour games against the All Blacks and the New Zealand Maori, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says he will not be underestimating the Irish challenge on Saturday.

“They had a man sent off early on against the All Blacks, which is not something any side can afford, and suffered accordingly,” Deans said.

“They did score four tries in that match, and got them all while playing with 14 men, which is a fair indicator of their willingness, in terms of having a go. It also says a lot about their capabilities.”

Australia’s recent history against Ireland also provides a reference point indicating the Wallabies must raise their game.

Last year’s Test match at Croke Park finished 20-20, with a late converted try by Irish skipper Brian O’Driscoll denying the tourists their shot at a Grand Slam of Great Britain and Ireland.

Just five players from the starting line-up on that occasion will reappear for the Wallabies this weekend.

Two years ago, Australia was forced to work hard to snuff out Ireland 18-12 in Melbourne on their most recent visit to this country.

“They are a seasoned unit, with proven performers in the key positions,” Deans added.

“Our recent matches will also have given them plenty of confidence that they can succeed, while their players will be hungry. This is their last match before a summer break, and a win on Saturday night will make this tour a success from their perspective.

“As we saw last weekend with England, that combination can be a powerful motivator so anything less than a significant improvement from where we left off in Sydney will not be good enough.”

Ireland team to play Australia: 15 Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), 12 Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 11 Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), 10 Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), 9 Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster), 1 Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), 2 Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), 3 Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), 5 Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), 6 Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster), 7 Shane Jennings (St Mary’s College/Leinster), 8 Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster).
Subs: 16 Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster), 17 Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), 18 Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), 19 Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster), 20 Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), 21 Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), 22 Geordan Murphy (Leicester).

Wallabies team to play Ireland: 15 James O’Connor (Western Force), 14 Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs), 13 Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs), 12 Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), 10 Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), 9 Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), 8 Richard Brown (Western Force), 7 David Pocock (Western Force), 6 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4 Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), 3 Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies), 2 Saia Faingaa (Queensland Reds), 1 Ben Daley (Queensland Reds).
Subs: 16 Huia Edmonds (Brumbies), 17 James Slipper (Queensland Reds), 18 Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), 19 Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 20 Josh Valentine (Brumbies), 21 Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs), 22 Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs).

Tomas O'Leary says European sides are beginning to close the gap on their southern hemisphere rivals.

Ireland scrum-half Tomas O’Leary admits southern hemisphere heavyweights New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are still leading the way in international rugby, but insists the European sides are starting to close the gap.

Ireland, Six Nations Grand Slam champions in 2009, are currently ranked fifth in the world behind the All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies and current Six Nations champions France, and take on New Zealand in a one-off Test in New Plymouth on Saturday.

The tour, which also includes a match against New Zealand Maori in Rotorua and a Test against Australia in Brisbane on June 26, will give the Irish a good idea of what to expect at the World Cup in New Zealand next year.

At that tournament they will play matches in New Plymouth, Rotorua and Auckland, where they will take on the Australians.

“The tour gives us good experience of the weather conditions, the opposition and what level we need to step up to within the southern hemisphere because the southern hemisphere teams are ranked ahead of the northern hemisphere sides,” the 26-year-old O’Leary said.

“It’s a higher level of opposition. Hopefully we’ll get to see where we’re at and what we need to
come up to it.

“I think the divide is becoming smaller but the world rankings say it all. There is a difference and they are still ahead of us at the moment.”

History is certainly against the Irish when it comes to knocking over the All Blacks. The best they have managed in 22 Tests over 105 years is a 10-10 draw in Dublin in 1973, despite some close-run encounters in 2006 and 2008 when they were well in the hunt going into the final 20 minutes.

And it is that lack of a strong final quarter that skipper Brian O’Driscoll wants to see remedied this weekend.

“The winning and losing of a game is more often than not in the last 20 minutes and you have to finish strong,” the veteran midfielder said.

“It’s probably what we’ve struggled to do. Any time that we’ve pushed them somewhat close they probably won that last 20 minutes.

“There is no point trying to hang in there with them because it only takes a breakaway and all of a sudden you are chasing the game.”

But what may be in the visitors’ favour is the All Blacks tendency to be a little off the pace at the start of their international season.

France made the most of that last year when they claimed a 27-22 win in Dunedin before narrowly losing the second fixture 14-10 in Wellington.

O’Leary, though, is not buying into that theory.

“Hopefully they will be slow starters but I don’t think they will have too many cobwebs at all,” he said.

“They are an impressive unit. We just hope that we can stand up to them physically and have a great victory come Saturday.”

Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll will win his 102nd international cap this Saturday.

The two team line-ups for this Saturday’s Test match between Ireland and New Zealand in New Plymouth have been revealed, with Ireland showing 10 changes to the starting team that played against the Barbarians in the opening game of the tour last week.

In the backline Tommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy, Tomas O’Leary will all start the Kiwi game, as will captain Brian O’Driscoll in the centre to win his 102nd cap.

Cian Healy and John Hayes will sit on either side of Sean Cronin in the front row and will be backed up by the experienced second row pairing of Donncha O’Callaghan and Mick O’Driscoll.

John Muldoon retains his starting position in the back row and is joined by David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip.

The replacements contain two uncapped players in John Fogarty and Dan Tuohy, both of which are included in their first international match day squad.

Meanwhile, Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks will make their New Zealand Test debuts after being named in a new-look starting line-up for the one-off match at Yarrow Stadium.

Franks, who played for the All Blacks against Munster on the end-of-year tour in 2008, will scrum down with his older brother and fellow prop Owen in the front row.

On the bench are three other new All Blacks in lock Sam Whitelock, loose forward Victor Vito and fly-half Aaron Cruden.

Like their opponents, New Zealand have been hit hard by injuries with hooker Andrew Hore, lock Ali Williams, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and fly-half Mike Delany (shoulder) ruled out for the year, while Ma’a Nonu (knee) is out for Saturday’s game plus two Tests against Wales.

Full-back Mils Muliaina (calf), centre Richard Kahui (chest) and lock Tom Donnelly (ankle) were also not considered for the match at Yarrow Stadium but are close to making a return.

Dagg, who has impressed in a struggling Highlanders side in this year’s Super 14, has been named at full-back, meaning Hurricanes number 15 Cory Jane finds himself moved out the right wing, where he has played the majority of his 12 Tests.

Stanley, the nephew of former All Blacks midfielder Joe Stanley, takes over the number 12 jersey in Nonu’s absence after a good season with the Blues and, while he might not have the explosive running game of the Hurricanes man, the All Blacks will lose nothing in defence with the 25-year-old in midfield.

Alongside the new players are plenty of experienced campaigners like captain Richie McCaw, who is set to play his 81st Test, fly-half Daniel Carter, wing Joe Rokocoko, centre Conrad Smith, flanker Jerome Kaino and scrum-half Jimmy Cowan.

Rokocoko returns to the side after being dropped for the 2009 end of year tour.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry said: ‘It’s an exciting team that will play the Irish. We have picked experienced All Blacks together with those players who have been in form throughout the Super 14 and deserve their opportunity at Test level.

“They know the Irish will be a huge challenge but they are looking forward to it.”

Ireland: Robert Kearney (Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), John Hayes (Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), John Muldoon (Connacht), David Wallace (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster).

New Zealand: Israel Dagg (Highlanders); Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Benson Stanley (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders); Ben Franks (Crusaders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Anthony Boric (Blues), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Richie McCaw (Crusaders, capt), Kieran Read (Crusaders).

Paul O'Connell will tour Australia and New Zealand.

Irish talisman Paul O’Connell was a surprise but welcome inclusion in Ireland’s 33-man touring squad for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand and Australia, which was announced in Dublin today.

The Munster lock, who has been suffering from an infection, was originally ruled out of the tour but has now been deemed fit enough to travel.

Flanker Stephen Ferris, though, misses out with a broken cheekbone sustained in training earlier this month, while fellow back-rower Denis Leamy and three-quarter Luke Fitzgerald are ruled out by knee problems.

Fitzgerald has missed the majority of the current season after suffering his injury against Australia during the autumn internationals.

The Ireland squad includes three uncapped players with forwards Chris Henry and Dan Tuohy making the tour party as competition in the back row and second row respectively. The other uncapped player is Fergus McFadden who, along with Tuohy, will be making their first senior tour for Ireland.

Ireland will begin the tour with a game against the Barbarians in Thomond Park on Friday June 4 before flying out for a meeting with New Zealand in New Plymouth on June 12.

The New Zealand Maoris team is the next opposition for Ireland in Rotorua on June 18 as part of the Maoris centenary celebrations.

The final game of the tour will see Ireland playing their Rugby World Cup Pool C opponents Australia in Brisbane on June 26.

Ireland Squad (33):
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)*
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)*
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)