In Pics: Ireland Training In Auckland (3)
Click here for photos of the Ireland squad’s training session in Auckland on Monday.
Pictured above: Scrum half Peter Stringer limbers up in Auckland. One of Munster’s heroes from last month’s Heineken Cup win, Stringer has had an enviable run in the Irish side – Saturday should mark his 67th cap. He has been Ireland’s starting scrum half for 63 of their last 71 Test matches.
Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll jokes arounds with Ronan O’Gara during some stretching.
Looking ahead to the serious business of Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand, O’Driscoll said: “You just have to hope against a team as good as the All Blacks that they have a bit of an off-day.
“There is a a gulf between them and the rest of the world at the moment. They’ve got such incredible strength in depth. You are a phenomenal player if you can maintain a starting position in the All Blacks side. Because, if you get an injury, some guy comes in and always does a job and then you find it difficult getting back in.”
Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, forwards coach Niall O’Donovan and team doctor Gary O’Driscoll, a second cousin to Brian, survey the scene at training.
Anthony Foley avoids a cross from out-half Ronan O’Gara during a game of soccer in Auckland. O’Gara, 29, is currently Ireland’s record points scorer with 607 points (8 tries, 96 conversions, 116 penalties and 9 drop goals). He averaged just over 15 points per game during the RBS 6 Nations to finish as the tournament’s top scorer for the second year running – he tallied up 76 points.
Ulster winger Andrew Trimble tries to get by Geordan Murphy during a game of Gaelic football. The 21-year-old Trimble has made an excellent start to his Ireland career with 3 tries in 6 Test matches and a role in the Triple Crown triumph.
Manchester United fan Brian O’Driscoll shows his soccer skills as he gets the better of Paul O’Connell and Rory Best.
O’Driscoll is looking for his side to rekindle some of their RBS 6 Nations’ form Down Under. He admitted: “We must approach this tour with the mindset that we know it’s an incredibly tough place to come to and win. But if we play well, enjoy ourselves and express some of the rugby we produced in the 6 Nations, then we have got an opportunity against any side.”
**All photos by Billy Stickland of Inpho Photography**
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