O'Mahony's alarming honesty over unfamiliar openside switch for crunch tie with Wallabies

Peter O’Mahony cannot recall the last time he played at openside, but said he has no problem with a change of role as he prepares to earn his 50th cap.

Jack Conan’s selection at number eight means that CJ Stander has shuffled over to the number 6 jersey with O’Mahony having to switch sides to openside.

“I don’t know, actually,” he admitted when asked about the last time he played at number seven.

That lack of openside experience when facing the likes of Pocock and Hooper and an in-form Australian backline may be cause for concern, but O’Mahony has tried to calm fears.

“CJ [Stander] would be well able to play seven as well. It changes a couple of small little roles but it’s something I was comfortable with from earlier on in the week when they asked me to slot in.

“Any opportunity you get to start in an Irish jersey – I’d take playing in the front row because it’s a special honour.”

50. Congratulations @peterom6 & @jackmc100 50th Cap in tomorrow’s series finale in Sydney.
They always wear that jersey with pride. #AUSvIRL #TeamOfUs #shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/8nzfnT7iWX

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 22, 2018

O’Mahony believes clinching a long-awaited series win in Australia in Sydney on Saturday will be “right up there” with Ireland’s Grand Slam triumph.

Ireland levelled the series in Melbourne last weekend with their first victory in Australia since 1979.

That was the same year they last won an away series against the Wallabies, so captain O’Mahony knows Joe Schmidt’s side are on the brink of something special ahead of the final Test at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney before it is knocked down next year and rebuilt.

“It would be up there. None of this group has done it. The last time we won a Test here was 1979, so that says enough of how hard it is to win over here.” said O’Mahony, who will switch to openside flanker for the decider.

“To talk about winning a series over here is up there with one of the biggest challenges in world rugby.

“We want to go and win [on Saturday] but we know we’ve got to get our process right and our performance is paramount.

“If we don’t put in a good performance, we could be well beaten by 30 or 40 points if we’re not on the ball.”

IRELAND squad for 3rd Test v Australia – Allianz Stadium, Sydney 
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 85 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 69 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 35 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 8 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 10 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 75 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 66 caps

1. Jack McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 49 caps
2. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 62 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 25 caps
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 59 caps
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 10 caps
6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 25 caps
7. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 49 caps captain
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 8 caps

Replacements
16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 8 caps
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 80 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 14 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets) 1 cap 
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 22 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 22 caps
22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 5 caps