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Ireland amend XV to face Portugal following Lions call-up
By Josh Raisey
Connacht centre Hugh Gavin has been promoted to Ireland’s starting XV to face Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday after Jamie Osborne’s call-up to Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions squad.
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Osborne was originally picked to start at outside centre by stand-in head coach Paul O’Connell with the 21-year-old Gavin poised to make his debut from the bench. But no sooner had Ireland’s squad been announced than Osborne had been drafted into the Lions squad, where he is set to arrive in Australia on Saturday.
Gavin, who will now wear the No.13 jersey, joins club-mate Shayne Bolton and Munster flanker Alex Kendellen as the three debutants in the starting XV, while Calvin Nash has taken his place on the bench.
Osborne is providing cover for Blair Kinghorn, who picked up a knee injury in the Lions’ victory over the Brumbies on Wednesday.
“On behalf of the Ireland team I would like to congratulate Jamie on his selection to the British & Irish Lions,” former Lions captain O’Connell said.
“It’s fantastic news for Jamie and we wish him well in Australia. Jamie has been a consistent performer for Leinster and Ireland and I’m sure he’ll be a great addition to the Lions squad. Good luck to Hugh (Gavin) who will now make his first start for Ireland on Saturday in Lisbon, with the experienced Calvin (Nash) moving on to the bench.”
Ireland XV
15: Jimmy O’Brien (Naas RFC/Leinster)(9)
14: Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(1)
13: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)*
12: Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC/Ulster)(20)
11: Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
10: Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)(25)
9: Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster)(captain)(19)
1: Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)(3)
2: Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)(5)
3: Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(7)
4: Tom Ahern (Shannon RFC/Munster)(1)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)(1)
6: Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster)(28)
7: Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)*
8: Cian Prendergast (UCD RFC/Connacht)(4)
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Replacements
16: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(3)
17: Michael Milne (UCD RFC/Munster)(1)
18: Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(16)
19: Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(2)
20: Max Deegan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)(3)
21: Ben Murphy (Clontarf FC/Connacht)(1)
22: Ciaran Frawley (UCD RFC/Leinster)(8)
23: Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(11)
