Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu and Leinster Academy hooker Gus McCarthy and will make their debuts for Ireland against Fiji on Saturday.
Izuchukwu (25) has been part of the Ireland squad since the summer tour of South Africa and like McCarthy was on the Emerging Ireland tour to Bloemfontein last month. The Tullamore native has been one of Ulster’s best players in the last six months and earns a shot at blindside.
McCarthy (21) has made the most of Leinster’s early season injury crisis at hooker and last year’s Ireland U-20s captain now makes a big step in his career after being named in the Autumn Nations Series squad as a ‘training panelist’.
As expected, Sam Prendergast gets his first start at out-half where he partners Craig Casey, with the inexperienced duo supported by the presence of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
Jamie Osborne is picked at full-back, while Jacob Stockdale returns to the Ireland team for the first time since the pre-World Cup game against Samoa and takes James Lowe’s place on the left wing with Mack Hansen retained on the right.
Up front, Andrew Porter and Finlay Bealham continue at prop either side of McCarthy, while Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne are in the second-row and Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris link up with Izuchukwu in the back-row.
This won’t be the week where Cian Healy breaks Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time cap record as Tom O’Toole is picked in the No 17 shirt and covers loosehead, having covered tighthead prop in the opening November game against New Zealand.
Tadhg Furlong hasn’t been risked, meaning Thomas Clarkson gets another opportunity and Ronan Kelleher covers hooker.
Ulster skipper Iain Henderson returns to the bench, while Cian Prendergast will get the chance to play alongside his brother for the first time since they were kids playing Gaelic football for Suncroft in Co Kildare.
Conor Murray brings experience to the bench, while Ciarán Frawley gets a shot to cover out-half and Stuart McCloskey will make his first appearance of the window if introduced.
Meanwhile, Fiji head coach Mick Byrne has named heavy hitters Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu in midfield, while the impressive Caleb Muntz continues at out-half.
Saracens loosehead Eroni Mawi starts, while experienced Lyon hooker Sam Matavesi, who has played with Toulouse and Northampton, is on the bench alongside Gloucester back-row Albert Tuisue, who was sent off on Fiji’s last visit to Dublin in 2022.
Ireland: J Osborne; M Hansen, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Stockdale; S Prendergast, C Casey; A Porter, G McCarthy, F Bealham; J McCarthy, T Beirne; C Izuchukwu, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).
Reps: R Kelleher, T O’Toole, T Clarkson, I Henderson, C Prendergast, C Murray, C Frawley, S McCloskey.
Fiji – V Karawalevu; J Wainiqolo, W Nayacalevu (co-capt), J Tuisova, P Loiganimasi; C Muntz, F Lomani, E Mawi, T Ikanivere (co-capt), L Tagi; M Vocevoce, T Mayanavanua; R M Derenalgi, K Salawa, E Canakaivata.
Reps: S Matavesi, H Hetet, S Tawake, S Turagacoke, A Tuisue, P Matawalu, V Botitu, S Maqala.