Jack McGrath v Logovi’i Mulipola
THERE’S PROBABLY NO easy way to make your international debut, but starting ahead of Cian Healy against a teak tough Leicester Tiger is certainly way off the mark.
Joe Schmidt’s decision to select McGrath in his first game in charge is another massive vote of confidence for the loose-head.
Just turned 24, McGrath has displayed excellent form this season both in the loose and in the scrum where the law changes appear to have suited his grappling ability.
Rory Best will be alongside him and able to fill him in on some recent first hand experience of Vunipola, but it seems as though McGrath will be left to duke it out with the tight-head for up to an hour before the Healy-shaped cavalry is called from the bench.
Conor Murray v Kahn Fotuali’i
By now, nobody should need reminding of Samoa’s win in Cardiff this time last year, but that was a fixture which truly marked Fotuali’i out as a world class number nine.
Though that day had obvious extra incentives for him, the former Osprey is the big creative influence that Ireland must shut down in the Aviva Stadium. The visitors will need no second invitation to smash a ruck and put Ireland on the back foot and exploiting that space is Fotuali’i's great strength.
Conor Murray is hardly ill-equipped to deal with a physical threat from his opposite number. if he can shut down the Northampton man then the second line of defence will have a slightly easier job.
Brian O’Driscoll v George Pisi
Brian O’Driscoll has played just 70 minutes of rugby since he lined out in the Lions’ second Test defeat to Australia in June. Even if his lungs do start to burn a bit in the first and final quarter, his return will be greatly appreciated.
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Opposite him will be the man set to face him again in back-to-back Heineken Cup meetings. Northampton’s George Pisi is the most potent remaining threat in the weakened Samoa back line and he will have several reasons to try to lay early markers on Ireland’s talisman.
