{"id":28378,"date":"2023-08-24T10:42:21","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T14:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28378"},"modified":"2023-08-24T10:42:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T14:42:23","slug":"ireland-team-named-to-face-samoa-in-bayonne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28378","title":{"rendered":"Ireland Team Named To Face Samoa In Bayonne"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Head Coach\u00a0Andy Farrell<\/strong>\u00a0has named his Ireland Match Day Squad to face Samoa in Saturday\u2019s final Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture at Stade Jean-Dauger in Bayonne (Kick-off 2.45 pm ET).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following\u00a0Bank of Ireland Nations Series<\/strong>\u00a0wins over Italy and England at Aviva Stadium, the Ireland squad have spent this week in Bayonne to finalize their preparations for Rugby World Cup, with a little over two weeks to go until their tournament opener against Romania in Bordeaux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iain Henderson<\/strong> returns to the second row to captain Ireland on Saturday night, having done so against Italy in Dublin at the start of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jimmy O\u2019Brien, Mack Hansen <\/strong>and Keith Earls<\/strong>, fresh from winning his 100th Test cap last weekend, start in the back three, with Robbie Henshaw <\/strong>and Stuart McCloskey<\/strong> in midfield. There is an all Munster half-back pairing as Jack Crowley <\/strong>and Conor Murray<\/strong> start at out-half and scrum-half respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the pack, Cian Healy <\/strong>and Finlay Bealham<\/strong> are selected either side of Tom Stewart<\/strong>, who is set for his first Ireland start having made his debut off the bench against Italy. Henderson partners Tadhg Beirne<\/strong> in the engine room, with Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier <\/strong>and Caelan Doris<\/strong> completing the starting XV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a wealth of experience at Farrell\u2019s disposal among the replacements, with\u00a0Rob Herring<\/strong>, Jeremy Loughman<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Tom O\u2019Toole<\/strong>\u00a0providing the front row reinforcements.\u00a0James Ryan\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Peter O\u2019Mahony<\/strong>\u00a0offer cover in the second and back row, while\u00a0Craig Casey<\/strong>,\u00a0Ross Byrne<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Garry Ringrose<\/strong>\u00a0are the backline options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland (v Samoa):<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

(Province\/Club\/Caps)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. Jimmy O\u2019Brien (Leinster\/Naas)(6)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht\/Corinthians)(15)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster\/Buccaneers)(64)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster\/Bangor)(13)
11. Keith Earls (Munster\/Young Munster)(100)
10. Jack Crowley (Munster\/Cork Constitution)(5)
9. Conor Murray (Munster\/Garryowen)(106)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cian Healy (Leinster\/Clontarf)(124)
2. Tom Stewart (Ulster\/Ballynahinch)(1)
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht\/Buccaneers)(31)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster\/Academy)(captain)(73)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster\/Lansdowne)(40)
6. Ryan Baird (Leinster\/Dublin University)(12)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster\/UCD)(51)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster\/St Mary\u2019s College)(30)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacements:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. Rob Herring (Ulster\/Ballynahinch)(36)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Munster\/Garryowen)(2)
18. Tom O\u2019Toole (Ulster\/Ballynahinch)(10)
19. James Ryan (Leinster\/UCD)(54)
20. Peter O\u2019Mahony (Munster\/Cork Constitution)(95)
21. Craig Casey (Munster\/Shannon)(11)
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster\/UCD)(20)
23. Garry Ringrose (Leinster\/UCD)(51)<\/p>\n

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