Advertisement
Ronan O'Gara speaks to Joey Carbery during training in New York. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
opportunity knocks

Open thread: Who would you like to see get their chance when Ireland face USA?

Joe Schmidt will name his team for Saturday’s Test in New York later today.

IT HAS FLOWN somewhat under the radar, but Joe Schmidt’s Ireland begin their summer tour in New Jersey on Saturday night [10pm Irish time] as they face the USA Eagles in a one-off Test match.

With eleven players touring New Zealand with the Lions, the 32-man squad for the game at the Red Bull Arena has a very youthful look to it with 17 players who have won five caps or less included.

There are some experienced players there — the likes of Cian Healy, Devin Toner and Simon Zebo — but overall this is a tour which presents a huge opportunity for those embarking on their international career.

Paddy Jackson, named in the original squad, is unavailable for personal reasons but will fly out to Japan in time for the two Test series against the Brave Blossoms, with Joey Carbery in line to start at 10 on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old is the only recognised out-half available to Schmidt and it will be a huge chance for the Leinster man to operate in that position in a green shirt having made his debut in that historic win over New Zealand in Chicago.

Andrew Porter, Dave Heffernan, James Ryan, Kieran Treadwell, John Cooney, Rory Scannell, Rory O’Loughlin and Jacob Stockdale are all in line to make their debuts in what could be a hugely exciting XV Schmidt sends out to face USA.

Cian Healy, Garry Ringrose and Keith Earls Healy, Ringrose and Earls are all expected to start. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The head coach will name his team later today but who would you like to see given their chance in New York on Saturday evening?

Pick your XV from the squad below and let us know who you’d include in the comments section.

Ireland squad:

Props

Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 67 caps
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 6 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps

Hookers

Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 4 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) uncapped

Second rows

James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 47 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster) uncapped
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 1 cap

Back row forwards

Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1 cap
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 13 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps

Scrum-halves

Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps
John Cooney (Connacht) uncapped
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap

Out-halves

Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 3 caps

Centres:

Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster) 9 caps
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) uncapped

Wingers:

Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 1 cap
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 59 caps
Rory O’Loughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster) uncapped

Fullbacks:

Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 33 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) uncapped


The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud

 

‘He was trying a bit of humour after struggling a wee bit with his press conference’

Murray, SOB, POM and Furlong get first 2017 Lions starts against Crusaders

Your Voice
Readers Comments
30
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.