Irish Rugby Union anounces squad for weekend's pre-World Cup game against Scotland
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has announced their match 22 for their upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) preparation encounter against Scotland. Scotland will host the Saturday, August 6, encounter at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.
The IRFU has confirmed the announcement of the squad, for their international fixture against Scotland in a statement released on their website on Thursday, August 4.
Ireland national Rugby Union team’s head coach, Declan Kidney, has named Leinster’s lock Leo Cullen as captain of the side.
The 33-year-old Cullen made his international debut during Ireland’s tour of New Zealand in June 2002. He has played 29 international tests for Ireland and this will be the first time he will lead the Irish side.
Kidney has also handed test debuts to Mike McCarthy and Felix Jones. The Connacht Rugby flanker Mike McCarthy will start the match in the starting xv while Munster’s utility back, Felix Jones, will start the match from the bench.
Kidney further added, “We also want to try new combinations and from there get our base level right to see where we are come Saturday.”
McCarthy will start alongside 50-test caps veteran Denis Leamy. Muster’s flanker Leamy will start the match at the openside flanker position.
Kidney has tried a new combination for the outside and inside centre positions. Leinster’s Fergus McFadden will wear the number 13 jersey while Ulster’s Paddy Wallace will start at inside centre position.
Ulster’s Andrew Trimble will start the match as left-winger, while Leinster’s Luke Fitzgerald will start the match at right-winger position.
Additionally, Leinster’s utility back Rob Kearney will start the match at the full back position. The 25-year-old Kearney will play his first international game after recovering from a knee injury.
Besides Kearney, Tomas O'Leary and Jerry Flannery have recovered from their respective injuries to earn a place in the squad. Scrumhalf O’Leary is named in the starting XV while hooker Flannery will start the match from the bench.
The Ireland’s squad for their Saturday’s encounter against the Scotland at Murray field includes,
Starting XV: 15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), 14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), 13 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), 11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), 10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster), 9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster), 8 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), 7 - Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster), 6 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht), 5 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster) (capt), 4 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), 3 - Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks), 2 - Sean Cronin (Leinster), 1 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster).
Replacements: 16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/ Munster), 17 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), 18 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), 19 - Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), 20 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), 21 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), 22 - Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster).
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