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Just one XV change for Ireland, but two rookies named on the bench
By Liam Heagney
Andy Farrell has unveiled an Ireland team that has just one alteration from the XV that lost 13-23 to New Zealand last Friday, Robbie Henshaw replacing Bundee Aki at inside centre.
The Irish were off the pace in their Autumn Nations Series opener, the 10-point defeat seeing them relinquish the World Rugby No1 ranking, but their reaction has been to keep faith with 14 of those same 15 starters.
Their selection gets more interesting on the much-changed bench, however, with uncapped Leinster pair, tighthead Thomas Clarkson and out-half Sam Prendergast, named at the expense of the injured Tom O’Toole and the out-of-sorts Ciaran Frawley.
There are also two other bench changes with Ryan Baird and Craig Casey respectively included as sub second row and sub scrum-half in place of Iain Henderson and Conor Murray.
Sub loosehead Cian Healy has been retained, though, lining him up to join Brian O'Driscoll as Ireland most capped Test player.
Farrell said: “There has been a sharp focus in training this week and the squad are determined to get back to winning ways in front of a vocal home crowd. Friday will be a special night at Aviva Stadium for more reasons than one.
“For Cian, on the other end of the career spectrum, it will be an incredible moment for him, his family and friends to reach Brian O’Driscoll’s 133-cap landmark.
"We will pay tribute to Cian again, but he is a legend of the game in Ireland and his influence amongst his teammates, past and present, transcends his many successes on the field. It promises to be a special night.”
Ireland (vs Argentina, Friday)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) (40)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht) (22)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) (61)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) (74)
11. James Lowe (Leinster) (34)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) (17)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) (36)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) (67)
2. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) (34)
3. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht) (43)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster) (13)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(65)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) (53)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) (65)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) (44) (captain)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) (41)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) (132)
18. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster) (0)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) (22)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (108)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster) (15)
22. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster) (0)
23. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster) (3)
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Latest Comments
Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.
In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.
On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.
But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.
Go to commentsI said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.
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