McNabney poised to make Ireland debut as Andy Farrell names seven changes for Fiji
Ulster's James McNabney is poised to make his Ireland debut off the bench after Andy Farrell named seven changes for Ireland's Nations Championship match against Fiji on Saturday 14 November at 20:10 GMT. Farrell's alterations include two positional switches, with Nick Timoney moved to number eight and Mack Hansen selected at full-back.
Timoney's move to number eight comes amid an absence of regular options at the position, with Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Sean Jansen all ruled out through injury. Hansen replaces Hugo Keenan, who drops out of the squad after scoring a hat-trick in Ireland's 42-12 win over Argentina. Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O'Brien and Jamison Gibson-Park have been added to the backline, while Rob Baloucoune and Sam Prendergast retain their places.
Ronan Kelleher starts at hooker after Dan Sheehan was ruled out because of concussion, and James Ryan pairs with stand-in captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row as Joe McCarthy drops out. Ryan Baird keeps his place at blind-side flanker following his return against Argentina, and Josh van der Flier is recalled at open-side after Timoney's switch to number eight.
Timoney is awarded a first Test start at number eight following an eye-catching shift at open-side last week, and Darragh Murray is named as the back-up lock in line to win his fourth cap off the bench. The front-row retains Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong among the starters.
Were McNabney to be called upon, it would cap a rapid rise for the 23-year-old, who has started just one game for Ulster this season after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury that forced him to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. McNabney is one of four Ulster players named among the replacements alongside hooker Tom Stewart, prop Tom O'Toole and centre Stuart McCloskey, who drops out of the starting line-up for the first time in 2026.
Mack Hansen returns to the full-back jersey; the 28-year-old scored a hat-trick on his first start at 15 against Australia last year. Tommy O'Brien is recalled on the left wing, Bundee Aki and Jamie Osborne form a new centre partnership after Aki was a late withdrawal from the Argentina game because of illness, Jamison Gibson-Park replaces Craig Casey at scrum-half, and Sam Prendergast remains at fly-half with Ciaran Frawley named among the reserves.
Ireland sit third in the Nations Championship northern hemisphere standings behind France and England with three wins from four games, while Fiji, who have never beaten Ireland, were beaten 52-17 by France last week and sit bottom of the southern hemisphere table without a point. Ireland's matchday selection is: Mack Hansen; Rob Baloucoune, Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O'Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Nick Timoney. Replacements: Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, James McNabney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Stuart McCloskey.
After Saturday's fixture with Fiji, Ireland will face the back-to-back world champions South Africa in Dublin next week; Farrell has retained first-choice props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong in his starting front row.