In from the cold comes Darren Cave, despite losing his centre berth at Ulster to Jared Payne this season, while Munster lock Dave Foley and Leinster flanker Dominic Ryan will win their first caps against Georgia this Sunday.
It's easier to read a Siren's mind than Joe Schmidt. The Ireland coach has made 13 changes from the side that beat South Africa 29-15 as the net is spread wider than anyone could have foreseen.
Cave wasn't included in the initial 37 man squad for the November internationals. Ireland's defence coach Les Kiss, having taken over at Ravenhill, selected the naturalised Payne at 13 for the European battles. The Kiwi damaged ankle ligaments against the Springboks and is out of consideration.
“We only had two centres in the group,” said Schmidt “With Robbie Henshaw playing the full 80 minutes against South Africa we just felt (it a risk) to put him out there in light of Jared Payne still recovering from his foot injury.”
The main concern is the six-day turnover before Michael Cheika’s Wallabies come to Dublin.
“Thankfully there is nothing structurally wrong with the foot,” Schmidt continued. “It is just bruising. He is out of the boot today and heading in the right direction.
“Darren Cave is a guy who has played for us before and can just slot in. He also hasn’t have a massive amount of game time so this is another opportunity for him to demonstrate what he can bring to the group.”
Mike Ross and Simon Zebo are the only members of the starting XV that beat South Africa to be retained. Seán Cronin, Jack McGrath and Devin Toner drop to the bench with the other frontliners put on ice this weekend.
Robin Copeland is poised to become the 13th player capped since Schmidt went about building the depth of the Ireland squad ahead of next year's World Cup. Ulster's Robbie Diack edges Copeland out of the number eight jersey, much like another South African, CJ Stander, has at Munster in recent weeks.
Eoin Reddan captains the side with Gordon D'Arcy returning at inside centre for his 80th Ireland appearance, dating all the way back to Romania in 1999.
The IRFU report that 42,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s game at the Aviva.
IRELAND (v Georgia): Felix Jones (Munster); Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy(Leinster), Simon Zebo (Munster); Ian Madigan (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster, capt); Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Dave Foley (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Robbie Diack (Ulster).
Replacements: Seán Cronin (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Rodney Ah You (Connacht), Devin Toner (Leinster), Robin Copeland (Munster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Ian Keatley (Munster), Stuart Olding (Ulster).
