Ireland take on Italy in the first of their World Cup warm-up game at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday at 14 00, and both head coaches have given players a chance to impress.
With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner both coaches have provided players with an opportunity to earn a place on the plane to Japan.
The hosts start with an impressive front-row
of Jack McGrath, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter, however, all are fighting for
their place in the team and will want to put in a big performance.
Just behind them is the towering presence
of Devin Toner, who gets in some much-needed game-time after missing the end of
last season through injury. He is joined in the second-row by debutant Jean
Kleyn, who will hope to lay down a marker.
Leinster star Rhys Ruddock captains the
side from blind-side flanker, while Tommy O’Donnell is on the open-side and
Ulster’s Jordie Murphy completes the pack from No 8.
Luke McGrath partners Joey Carbery in the
half-backs, with both facing strong competition for a place in Japan, while Chris
Farrell and Garry Ringrose open in the centre.
Dave Kearney begins the game on the
left-wing, with Andrew Conway on the right and Jordan Larmour at full-back.
There is experience on the bench with the likes of Cian Healy and Iain Henderson ready to make an impact, while there could also be another debut for a Munster player if Mike Haley makes a cameo.
On the other side, Italy head coach Conor O’Shea
has handed a host of youngster’s opportunities to push for a place in his squad
while mixing experience throughout the squad.
Nicola Quaglio, Oliviero Fabiani and Marco
Riccioni are named as the front-three, with experienced duo Alessandro Zanni
and captain Dean Budd slotting into the engine room.
Giovanni Licata, Maxime Mbanda and Jimmy
Tuivaiti are at six, seven and eight respectively, while Guglielmo Palazzani
and Carlo Canna link-up at scrum-half and out-half.
21-year-old Benetton centre Marco Zanon joins Tommaso Benvenuti in an exciting midfield, with Giulio Bisegni and Angelo Esposito on the wings and Edoardo Padovani finishing the starting XV at full-back.
O’Shea has decided to rest star-man Sergio Parisse for this weekend’s clash as his side face Russia, France and England in upcoming weeks.
Ireland will be hoping to lay down a marker
this weekend following their poor Six Nations campaign earlier in the year and
with clashes against England and a double header with Wales to come before they
jet off to Japan.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squads Below.
Ireland:
15. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s
College/Leinster) 13 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 12
caps caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 20 caps
12. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 5
caps
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 17
10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 18 caps
9. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 10 caps
1. Jack McGrath (St Marys College/Leinster)
54 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7 caps
3. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 14 caps
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 64 caps
5. Jean Kleyn (Munster) 0 caps
6. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s
College/Leinster) 21 caps Captain
7. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
12 caps
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 27 caps
Replacements:
16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 14
caps
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 88 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
18 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Queens
University/Ulster) 44 caps
20. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 5 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht) 25
caps
22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
23. Mike Haley (Munster) 0 caps
Italy:
15. Edoardo Padovani
14. Angelo Esposito
13. Tommaso Benvenuti
12. Marco Zanon
11. Guilio Bisegni
10. Carlo Canna
9. Guglielmo Palazzani
1. Nicola Quaglio
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Alessandro Zanni
5. Dean Budd (c)
6. Giovanni Licata
7. Maxime Mbanda
8. Jimmy Tuivaiti
Replacements:
16. Federico Zani
17. Andrea Lovotti
18. Simone Ferrari
19. Marco Lazzzaroni
20. Renato Giammarioli
21. Callum Braley
22. Ian Mckinley
23. Matteo Minozzi
