Andy Farrell may have lost some key players but has been able to select a few more after injury absences for Ireland’s Nations Championship Test with Argentina on Friday.
Experienced prop Andrew Porter and loose forward Ryan Baird, who like wing Mack Hansen and fullback Hugo Keenan, missed Ireland’s Six Nations Triple Crown campaign, return to the starting XV.
It has been a long road back for Keenan, who was out of action for last year’s November Tests and Hansen last played in the final one of those matches, the defeat by the Springboks.
TEAM: Fully-loaded Los Pumas pick lippy flyhalf
Their return is some consolation for the absences of captain Caelan Doris, back-rower Jack Conan, centre Garry Ringrose and flyhalf Jack Crowley.
Hooker Dan Sheehan captains the Irish as they bid to preserve their record of having beaten Argentina in all 11 previous home Tests at the Aviva Stadium.
Crowley had appeared to have finally resolved Ireland’s major headache in filling the vacuum left by legend Johnny Sexton’s retirement but a rare case of a narrowing of a blood vessel in a leg has kept him on the sidelines since April.
Sam Prendergast is entrusted with the 10 jersey, though Farrell has sprung a bit of a surprise in selecting Crowley’s Munster teammate Craig Casey at scrumhalf instead of regular choice Jamison Gibson-Park.
IRELAND – 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (c), 1 Andrew Porter.
Bench: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Sam Illo, 19 James Ryan, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki.
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Ireland welcome back star quartet appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Andy Farrell may have lost some key players but has been able to select a few more after injury absences for Ireland’s Nations Championship Test with Argentina on Friday.
The post Ireland welcome back star quartet appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
