Shields makes bench for opening Test

Ulster hooker Paul Shields is the only uncapped player named among Ireland's replacements for Saturday's Test match against Australia…

Ulster hooker Paul Shields is the only uncapped player named among Ireland's replacements for Saturday's Test match against Australia in Perth.

Shields (24) gets his chance in the absence of Munster's Frank Sheahan, who returned to Ireland at the beginning of the week to face a European Rugby Cupindependent judicial tribunal after testing positive for illegal substance salbutamol.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan delayed naming his replacements when announcing the team on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Geordan Murphy admitted he will have to fill some of the biggest boots in rugby on. The 25-year-old Leicester star has played only a handful of matches at outside centre at club level, but will wear the No 13 jersey in place of the injured Brian O'Driscoll for the Subiaco Oval clash.

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Murphy normally plays at fullback, but started his international career on the wing before the latest switch to the centre alongside Kevin Maggs for this encounter.

"It is a big ask, but I've always said I would be happy to play anywhere in an Irish shirt," Murphy said.

Murphy and Maggs will be squaring off against one of the most inexperienced Australian centre pairings in Wallabies' history, with Steve Kefu and Morgan Turinui both making their debuts in the starting lineup.

Murphy said he did not know much about his opposite man Turinui, other than his growing reputation following an impressive debut season in the Super 12 for New South Wales Waratahs.

He said he would have to adjust his decision-making for the new role, but coach Eddie O'Sullivan was confident he could make the necessary defensive adjustments.

"It is not rocket science between 15 and 13," O'Sullivan said. "The same basic principles apply, you know, and it is a matter of slightly adjusting his compass and running some different lines," O'Sullivan said.

Wallabies' coach Eddie Jones warned his charges they will have their hands full against Maggs and Murphy, who have 66 caps between them.

"Maggs is a very good centre," Jones said. "He's a nice, strong, well-balanced runner and Murphy is an outstanding player. He has got some brilliant skills. His aerial skills are fantastic, so they still have a lot of very good players."

Jones said while the World Cup in Australia at the end of the year was the main prize on the horizon, his side needed to play well to keep on track as they worked toward that goal.

"We're approaching it very much as a game in itself, we'd like to do well, we'd like to start the season off well," Jones said. "Everyone talks about the World Cup and certainly our goal is to do well in the World Cup, but we've got seven Test matches that are important Test matches in themselves.

IRELAND:G Dempsey (Leinster); J Topping (Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester), K Maggs (Bath), J Kelly (Munster), D Humphreys (Ulster, capt), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster), G Longwell (Ulster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster). Replacements:P Shields (Ulster), E Byrne (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), E Miller (Leinster), G Easterby (Llanelli), R O'Gara (Munster), T Howe (Ulster).

AUSTRALIA:C Latham (Queensland); W Sailor (Queensland), M Tuirini (NSW), S Kefu (Queensland), J Roff (ACT); E Flatley (Queensland), G Gregan (ACT, capt); B Young (ACT), J Paul (ACT), P Noriega (NSW); D Giffin (ACT); N Sharpe (Queensland); D Lyons (NSW), T Kefu (Queensland), G Smith (ACT). Replacements: B Cannon (NSW), B Darwin (ACT), D Vickerman (ACT), P Waugh (NSW), C Whitaker (NSW), N Grey (NSW), L Tuquiri (NSW).