Magners League dominates national selections

Ireland, Scotland and Wales have put their faith in their Magners League stars for their respective clashes with Fiji, Australia and Argentina this Saturday.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has made eight changes to the squad that drew with the Wallabies last time out but he has again selected a matchday 22 made up entirely of players plying their trade in the Magners League.

Kidney's men face the Fijians in the first-ever international at the Royal Dublin Showground, with Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton making his Ireland debut at his home venue.

Keith Earls comes in for Luke Fitzgerald after the latter was ruled out for up to six months with a knee injury, while Leinster trio Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy and Eoin Reddan are the final three changes to the backline.

Ulster's Tom Court starts at prop, with Leinster skipper Leo Cullen named at lock and Denis Leamy replacing Munster team-mate David Wallace in the back row.

Leinster's Sean O'Brien, Munster's Tony Buckley and Ulster centre cum wing Andrew Trimble have all been named among the replacements as Ireland look to keep their unbeaten record throughout 2009 in tact.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has made a total of six changes to his starting XV for the visit of the Pumas following Friday night's unconvincing win over Samoa.

Gatland has reverted to the same starting line up that narrowly lost to the All Blacks a fortnight ago, with one exception.

Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies comes to earn his first start on Welsh soil in his fourth international, with the 21-year-old replacing the injured Tom Shanklin as Jamie Roberts moves from inside to outside centre.

Uncapped Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate takes a spot among the replacements, as does Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop - a late call up for Shanklin.

Like Kidney, Gatland has placed his faith in his Magners League-based players, with replacement scrum-half Dwayne Peel of Sale the only foreign-based player in the matchday 22.

As for Scotland, new boss Andy Robinson has named the exact same 22 that secured a 23-10 win over Fiji last Saturday as he looks for more of the same against former Leinster star Rocky Elsom's Australia.

Glasgow's Chris Cusiter again captains the side ahead of Edinburgh rival Mike Blair, with 12 of the starting XV and 18 of the 22 representing Magners League clubs.

Ireland (vs Fiji, Saturday November 21, kick-off 5:15pm)

Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordon D'Arcy (all Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan (both Leinster); Tom Court (Ulster), Jerry Flannery, John Hayes (both Munster), Leo Cullen (Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements: Sean Cronin (Connacht), Tony Buckley, Donncha O'Callaghan (both Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble (bothUlster)

Wales (vs Argentina, Saturday November 21, kick-off 2.30pm)

James Hook (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Roberts (both Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins (both Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones (both Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Andy Powell, Martyn Williams (both Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, captain)

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones (both Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues)

Scotland (vs Australia, Saturday November 21, kick-off 5:15pm)

Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) Simon Danielli (Ulster); Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Traynor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)