Ireland

Our Bid

2023

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Carney is the only uncapped player in the starting XV and is joined in the back three by Gavin Duffy, who starts at full back for the first time for Ireland. There is a new centre partnership in the shape of Andrew Trimble and Kieran Lewis, who starts the game at inside centre. Paddy Wallace will also form the half-back combination with his Ulster team-mate Isaac Boss.

In the forwards, Jerry Flannery starts at hooker for the first time since last year's summer tour. Malcolm Oâ00Kelly also returns to the side after missing the entire RBS 6 Nations championship due to injury. In the back row, Jamie Heaslip will make his second start for Ireland at number 8. He will be flanked by Neil Best and the experienced Keith Gleeson. The team will be captained by Simon Best for the first time.

Ireland coach Eddie Oâ00Sullivan said: â00This tour is about allowing players to challenge for the World Cup squad and it starts this weekend in the first Test against Argentina. Players have to put their hands up over the next two weeks to put their case forward. Now that might put pressure on players, but there is no more pressurised an environment than international rugby and the World Cup, so this will be a good test for them.â0

IRELAND TEAM AND REPLACEMENTS (v Argentina, Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez del Barrio Centenario, Santa Fe, Saturday, May 26, kick-off 4.10pm (8.10pm Irish time)):

- Player/Club/Province/Caps -

15 - Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht) 4 caps
14 - Brian Carney (Clonakilty/Munster) 0
13 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 14
12 - Kieran Lewis (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 1
11 - Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 8
10 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 3
9 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) 7
1 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster) 5
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) 14
3 - Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) (capt) 16
4 - Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster) 3
5 - Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 83
6 - Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 10
7 - Keith Gleeson (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 25
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster) 1

Replacements:

16 - Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster) 2
17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 0
18 - Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 9
19 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) 1
20 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster) 0
21 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers) 46
22 - Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians/Munster) 0

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."

Speaking about working with the provinces and monitoring players' progress, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told RTE Radio 1: "For us, having the best quality of performance within the provinces, getting some really good coaching from the provincial coaches, which we know is happening at the moment, that's the foundation that we need because in the end we get the players in a match week pretty much."