O2 MatchDay Live: USA v Ireland
Houston’s BBVA Stadium will play host to Ireland’s opening match of their summer tour when they renew rivalries with the USA. You can keep up-to-date with tonight’s Test via our O2 MatchDay Live service right here on IrishRugby.ie.
Tonight’s encounter between Ireland and the USA will be the eighth time these two sides have met at senior international level. Ireland have won on all seven previous occasions, including a 22-10 Rugby World Cup pool win in New Zealand two years ago.
Ireland are gunning for their fourth successive victory over the hosts on American soil, following their previous successes in 1996 (25-18), 2000 (83-3) and 2009 (27-10).
Interim head coach Les Kiss takes charge of Ireland for the first time and has included two debutants in the starting line-up – Connacht full-back Robbie Henshaw (19) and Ulster centre Stuart Olding (20).
Out-half Ian Madigan and forwards David Kilcoyne and Iain Henderson will also be making their first starts in the green jersey, while replacements Mike Sherry, Jamie Hagan and Tommy O’Donnell are standing by to earn their first caps.
Tighthead prop Mike Ross, set to win his 30th cap, is the most experienced member of the Irish starting line-up. He features in a pack that weighs in at an average of 114kg, giving them a 3kg per man weight advantage over their American counterparts.
Ireland have never played before at the BBVA Compass Stadium, the home ground of Major League soccer club Houston Dynamo. The USA played there against Italy last June, going down 30-10 to the Azzurri.
USA captain Todd Clever, the most experienced player on the pitch with 47 Test caps, is one of four Americans with in excess of 30 caps. Ten of the Ireland team have 10 caps or less, with another seven replacements that can be added to that category.
With 285 Test caps in their starting line-up, the USA will field a vastly more experienced side compared to Ireland who can count on just 119 caps.
The USA have lost three of their last five games, including a 16-9 defeat to neighbours Canada in their last outing in Edmonton two weeks ago.
Ireland come into this tour on the back of their worst Six Nations campaign since Italy’s inclusion in the Championship in 2000. A victory in Houston would be their first since they overcame eventual champions Wales 30-22 in Cardiff in February.
We will have live text commentary direct from Houston, Texas so plug in your laptop or turn on the PC and enjoy a flavour of the game live on IrishRugby.ie.
There will be full live text and score updates throughout the coverage, with our pre-match build-up getting underway at 1am Irish time.
The game is being broadcast live in Ireland on TG4 and also on the Universal Sports Network in America, and there will be a live worldwide stream on www.tg4.tv.
You can feel part of the action on IrishRugby.ie with MatchDay Live – tonight’s clash kicks off at 1.45am Irish time/7.45pm local time.
Look out for the MatchDay Live button in the Ireland section or simply click on the link below:
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