Ireland vs Fiji: Cormac Izuchukwu & Gus McCarthy handed debuts as Sam Prendergast starts at 10

Izuchukwu, who can operate in the second and back rows, was named in Farrell’s squad for the summer’s two-Test tour of South Africa but did not make either matchday panel.

But having impressed for Ulster and on his second Emerging Ireland tour earlier this autumn, he will make his Test bow in a strong back row that includes 2022 world player of the year Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris.

Izuchukwu’s Ulster team-mate Stockdale has been rewarded for a strong start to the season which has yielded three tries in five United Rugby Championship appearances.

Stockdale, 28, last started for Ireland in the World Cup warm-up match against Samoa in August 2023.

McCarthy, who captained the Ireland under-20s to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, has been promoted to the line-up in place of Leinster team-mate Kelleher, who started against the All Blacks and Argentina.

Prendergast, one of the stars of that under-20s side, has been rewarded for a steady debut off the bench against Argentina. His older brother Cian, who has three caps, has also been named on the bench.

Aki also returns to the line-up after being dropped following the defeat by New Zealand, while Tom O’Toole is recalled to the replacements after missing the Argentina game with a head injury he sustained against the All Blacks.

O’Toole’s Ulster team-mates Iain Henderson, Rob Herring and Stuart McCloskey are also on the bench, but there is still no place for prop Tadhg Furlong despite a positive fitness update earlier this week.

Crowley, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Peter O’Mahony, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan are among those rested by Farrell.

Finally, Cian Healy must wait another week for a record-breaking 134rd cap – having drawn level with Brian O’Driscoll against Argentina – after the prop was left out of the 23.