Ireland side To Face Namibia

The Ireland team to play Namibia at Aussie Stadium, Sydney on Sunday next, September 19 (8 pm local), shows five changes in personnel and one positional alteration from the selected side which defeated Romania by 45 – 17 on Saturday last.

Out half Ronan O’Gara wins his 35th cap; tight head prop John Hayes (36th Test) is selected for the first time since March last against England and Simon Easterby (N0. 6), Alan Quinlan (N0. 7) and Eric Miller (N0. 8) make up a new look back row. The selection of Hayes, sees Reggie Corrigan switch to loose head prop.

Of Ireland’s 30 man World Cup squad, Gary Longwell (calf) and Anthony Foley (knee) were not considered due to injury.

Left wing Denis Hickie, playing in his 42nd game, becomes Ireland’s most capped wing, surpassing Keith Crossan (41 Tests between 1982 – 1992). Keith Wood will captain the Ireland side for the 33rd time in 55 internationals.

Ireland’s record against Namibia is Played 2, Lost 2 (Windhoek, July 20th, 1991, 6-15 and Windhoek, July 27th, 1991, 15-26.).

The Ireland team to play Namibia is: –

15 – Girvan Dempsey (Leinster – Terenure College);

14 – Shane Horgan (Leinster – Lansdowne)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster – Blackrock College)

12 – Kevin Maggs (Bath)

11 – Denis Hickie (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

10 – Ronan O’Gara (Munster – Cork Constitution)

9 – Peter Stringer (Munster – Shannon);

1 – Reggie Corrigan (Leinster – Greystones)

2 – Keith Wood (Munster – Garryowen) Captain

3 – John Hayes (Munster – Shannon)

4 – Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

5 – Paul O’Connell (Munster – Young Munster)

6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 – Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon)

8 – Eric Miller (Leinster – Terenure College)

Replacements:

16 – Shane Byrne (Leinster – Blackrock College)

17 – Marcus Horan (Munster – Shannon)

18 – Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution)

19 – Victor Costello (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)

20 – Guy Easterby (Rotherham)

21 – David Humphreys (Ulster – Dungannon)

22 – John Kelly (Munster – Cork Constitution)