Munster-dominated team to face ABs
Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:39
Ireland have named a team stacked with eight players from Europe's most powerful club team, the Heineken Cup-winning Munster side, for their one-off Test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
Seven of the eight forwards have been included from a Munster side which beat Toulouse 16-13 in the Heineken Cup Final on May 24, while Ronan O'Gara plays at flyhalf in a backline dominated by Leinster players.
Leinster No.8 Jamie Heaslip the only non Munster player in the starting eight.
Flank Alan Quinlan, who starred for Munster in their European campaign, was the only player unavailable, because of a thigh injury.
Outside centre Brian O'Driscoll was confirmed as captain for the Test after travelling to New Zealand later than his teammates following the death of a close friend.
He will combine in the centre with his 20-year-old Leinster teammate Luke Fitzgerald, the youngest member of the touring squad.
Overall the side sees a number of changes from the Barbarians game last week, after the inclusion of 12 Munster players in the touring squad following the Heineken Cup Final.
Jerry Flannery also returns to the side at hooker after missing the entire Six Nations championship.
Robert Kearney retains the fullback position he occupied against the Barbarians, ahead of Girvan Dempsey, while Eoin Reddan comes into the team after joining the squad on Monday fresh from helping Wasps to win the Guinness Premiership Final.
Ireland: 15 Robert Kearney (Leinster), 14 Shane Horgan (Leinster), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), 12 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), 11 Tommy Bowe (Ulster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9 Eoin Reddan (Wasps), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), 7 David Wallace (Munster), 6 Denis Leamy (Munster), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), 3 John Hayes (Munster), 2 Jerry Flannery (Munster), 1 Marcus Horan (Munster).
Replacements: 16 Rory Best (Ulster), 17 Tony Buckley (Munster), 18 Mick O'Driscoll (Munster), 19 Shane Jennings (Leinster), 20 Peter Stringer (Munster), 21 Paddy Wallace (Ulster), 22 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster).
Date: Saturday, June 7
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris White (England)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales), Matt Goddard (Australia)
TMO: Christophe Berdos (France)
