CAPTAIN FANTASTIC WILL hopefully have another eight games in green in him after this weekend, but Saturday’s encounter with Wales will be the last time Paul O’Connell pulls on an Ireland jersey on home soil.
The pre-World Cup Test is the third of Ireland’s four warm-ups, but after the final whistle blows, the 31 lucky enough to remain in the squad will close out the friendly stretch in Twickenham before the tournament starts for real in Cardiff on 19 August.
Before the matchday 23 to meet Wales was revealed this afternoon, O’Connell and put the final touches on preparations for Wales in Carton House.
Here’s how they’re shaping up.
If ever there was a shadow to be afraid of, it’s this one
Taking in another few pages from the Book of Joe
Cue some intense conversation with his fellow team leaders
‘Sorry, Dev. I’ll have that’
Ready to pounce with Nathan White and Richardt Strauss
Iain Henderson clearly not doing a great deal of lifting here
The shove is well and truly on
Of course, there was more than just Paulie in training today
Cian Healy was scrummaging against Tadhg Furlong
And trying to take Strauss down
Marty Moore was doing contact work after ending last week in a protective boot
Oh, there’s Paulie again.
Jack McGrath forced Mike Ross to show his distribution skills
Onlookers say time briefly stood still and the tremors can still be felt after Iain Henderson ran in to Sean O’Brien
Dave Kearney has probably never looked happier than he did after breaking past Simon Zebo
