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Ireland team named for Italy Test


Ireland squad named for Italy Test. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
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Ireland have named their team to face Italy in Chicago on Saturday.

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As expected Joey Carbery lines up at outhalf, with in-form Leinster scrum half Luke McGrath also starting.

With Rob Kearney injured, Jordan Larmour takes the 15 jersey, with the other full-back contender, Andrew Conway, selected on the right wing. Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are in the centre

Ireland are captained by Rhys Ruddock, a role he has undertaken before for his national team and for Leinster. He wore the armband for the duration of Ireland’s 2017 Summer Tour of the USA and Japan. He is joined in the backrow by Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.

Leinster outhalf Ross Byrne and Ulster centre Will Addison, a former England U20 international, are in line for their debuts after being named on the bench.

Addison only joined Ulster from Gallagher Premiership side Sale in the summer as he sought international honours. Byrne meanwhile was an unused tourist in June as Ireland claimed a 2-1 series success over Australia.

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Tadhg Beirne, another who moved back to Ireland after a stint with the Scarlets, is in the second row alongside Connacht’s Quinn Roux.

IRELAND Match Day Squad v Italy:
Player/Club/Province/Caps –

15. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 6
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 7
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 14
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 9
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 11
10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 12
9. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 6

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 50
2. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 9
3. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 8
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 2
5. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 6
6. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 19 captain
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 10
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 9

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 62
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 22
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 7
19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 60
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 23
21. John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 2
22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) *
23. Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster) *

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Phantom 33 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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