Irish Trio Confirmed For Tsunami Match

Brian O’Driscoll, David Humphreys and Paul O’Connell are to play their part for the Northern Hemisphere in Saturday’s Tsunami Rugby Aid Match at Twickenham.

A fit-again O’Driscoll is to captain Sir Clive Woodward’s ‘North’ selection – which incorporates players from all the Six Nations countries – against a Rod Macqueen-coached ‘South’ (kick-off 2.30pm).

British and Irish Lions coach Woodward – sure to use the one-off clash to run the rule over a number of possibles for June’s tour to New Zealand – will confirm his starting North line-up in the coming days.

“The guys that have been named are world class and I am looking forward to working with such an outstanding group of players,” said Woodward.

“The game promises to be a great spectacle. Both teams are fielding top-quality sides and I really hope that the rugby public and community get behind this game so that we are playing in front of a packed out Twickenham to raise as much money as possible for such a deserving cause.”

IRB Tsunami Rugby Aid Match: Saturday, March 5
North v South, Twickenham, 2.30pm (live BBC 1)

NORTH squad: L Dallaglio (England), B Cohen (England), A Rougerie (France), D Traille (France), F Pelous (France), R Ibanez (France), P de Villiers (France), B O’Driscoll (Ireland) (Capt), P O’Connell (Ireland), D Humphreys (Ireland), C Paterson (Scotland), C Cusiter (Scotland), G Bullock (Scotland), S Taylor (Scotland), A Lo Cicero (Italy), M Bortolami (Italy), S Parisse (Italy), D Peel (Wales), C Sweeney (Wales), J Thomas (Wales), R Williams (Wales), J Yapp (Wales).

SOUTH team: C Latham (Australia); R Caucaunibuca (Fiji), J Fourie (South Africa) T Umaga (New Zealand), S Bobo (Fiji); A Mehrtens (New Zealand) G Gregan (Australia) (Capt); T Kefu (Australia), P Waugh (Australia), S Burger (South Africa); I Rawaqa (Fiji), V Matfield (South Africa); K Visagie (South Africa), J Smit (South Africa), C Hoeft (New Zealand).

Replacements: B Reihana (New Zealand), B Lima (Samoa), E Taukafa (Tonga), O Palepoi (Samoa), S Sititi (Samoa), M Rauluni (Fiji), one other player to be announced

Referee: Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand)