Foley To Lead Ireland.

Following the withdrawal of Keith Wood from the Ireland side to play Romania, Anthony Foley will lead the team at Thomond Park tomorrow (kick-off 1.30pm).
Wood’s place in the front row goes to seasoned campaigner, Leinster’s Shane Byrne with Paul Shields (Ulster) receiving a surprise call-up to the Irish bench.

Shields’ elevation to international status comes about in part because obvious replacement Frank Sheahan is nursing a slight shoulder injury. Sheahan traveled with the Munster side to Llanelli last weekend and was named in the starting line-up before crying off just 24 hours before kick-off.