Six New Caps Line Out for Opening Game of Tour
Rory Best will lead an Ireland team that contains six new caps in the starting XV for the opening game of the Ireland summer tour against Canada in Vancouver this Saturday (May 23rd). In addition to the new caps in the starting team, there are a further five possible new caps named among the replacements.
The pack has an experienced foundation through the leadership of captain Rory Best and he will be accompanied in the white hot battle zone of the front row by Tom Court at loosehead who starts his first game for Ireland and Tony Buckley who starts at tighthead. Bob Casey will end a nine year gap between his last cap, which was also against Canada in 2000, when he lines out at Thunderbird Stadium in the second row with Mick O’Driscoll.
On the selections for the opening game, Declan Kidney said: “Our aim at the start of this season was to build a squad but with so many experienced players available, it has been difficult for some players to get experiences of their own. This is an ideal tour for them as these are full test matches and we will see how the players cope when they are exposed to the full rigours of test match rugby. These players have been training and playing with their provinces over a number of years and so we are just looking forward to seeing how they go this weekend.
The first of the new caps is in the backrow where Denis Leamy is selected at No.8 and will be joined on the flank by connacht Captain John Muldoon and Munster’s openside Niall Ronan.
The backline contains four new caps, the first being outhalf Ian Keatley who will partner Ireland’s most capped scrumhalf Peter Stringer.
Outside Keatley, Ian Whitten and Darren Cave will form an all Ulster centre combination.
Munster will be supplying the wingers for the game with Barry Murphy lining out on the right wing and debutant Ian Dowling named on the left with Gavin Duffy completing the back three.
Kidney added; “There is a lot of youth in this backline for Saturday, but with players like Brian (O’Driscoll), Gordon (D’Arcy) and Ronan (O’Gara) being around for so long and winning so many caps, these players have not been able to get the opportunity to get international experience. Saturday gives these players that chance to put down a marker to challenge for places and we see this as the start of our preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 and building a squad for that tournament”.
Noting his pride and delight to be leading the team on Saturday, Rory Best said: “I am obviously delighted and incredibly proud to be leading the side on Saturday, especially with some of the up and coming players in Irish Rugby. Saturday is a big challenge as Canada will certainly be a physically imposing side and will want to try and test us in all areas of the park, especially up front. We have to be able to meet that challenge and put in a performance. We have had a short time together, but I think there is a good blend in the team with players like Peter (Stringer) and Denis (Leamy) along with Mick O’Driscoll and Bob Casey adding experience to some of the younger players which will be important.”
Ireland Team:
15 – Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
14 – Barry Murphy (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)
13 – Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
12 – Ian Whitten (Ballymena/Ulster)*
11 – Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster)*
10 – Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)*
9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
1 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain
3 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
4 – Bob Casey (London Irish)
5 – Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6 – John Muldoon (Buccanneers/Connacht)*
7 – Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)*
8 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
17 – Mike Ross (Harlequins)*
18 – Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)*
19 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (London Wasps)
21 – Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
22 – Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
