IT HAS FLOWN somewhat under the radar, but Joe Schmidt’s Ireland begin their summer tour in New Jersey on Saturday night [10pm Irish time] as they face the USA Eagles in a one-off Test match.
With eleven players touring New Zealand with the Lions, the 32-man squad for the game at the Red Bull Arena has a very youthful look to it with 17 players who have won five caps or less included.
There are some experienced players there — the likes of Cian Healy, Devin Toner and Simon Zebo — but overall this is a tour which presents a huge opportunity for those embarking on their international career.
Paddy Jackson, named in the original squad, is unavailable for personal reasons but will fly out to Japan in time for the two Test series against the Brave Blossoms, with Joey Carbery in line to start at 10 on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old is the only recognised out-half available to Schmidt and it will be a huge chance for the Leinster man to operate in that position in a green shirt having made his debut in that historic win over New Zealand in Chicago.
Andrew Porter, Dave Heffernan, James Ryan, Kieran Treadwell, John Cooney, Rory Scannell, Rory O’Loughlin and Jacob Stockdale are all in line to make their debuts in what could be a hugely exciting XV Schmidt sends out to face USA.
Healy, Ringrose and Earls are all expected to start. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The head coach will name his team later today but who would you like to see given their chance in New York on Saturday evening?
Pick your XV from the squad below and let us know who you’d include in the comments section.
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Ireland squad:
Props
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 67 caps
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 6 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps
Hookers
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 4 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) uncapped
Second rows
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 47 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster) uncapped
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 1 cap
Back row forwards
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1 cap
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 13 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
Scrum-halves
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps
John Cooney (Connacht) uncapped
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Open thread: Who would you like to see get their chance when Ireland face USA?
IT HAS FLOWN somewhat under the radar, but Joe Schmidt’s Ireland begin their summer tour in New Jersey on Saturday night [10pm Irish time] as they face the USA Eagles in a one-off Test match.
With eleven players touring New Zealand with the Lions, the 32-man squad for the game at the Red Bull Arena has a very youthful look to it with 17 players who have won five caps or less included.
There are some experienced players there — the likes of Cian Healy, Devin Toner and Simon Zebo — but overall this is a tour which presents a huge opportunity for those embarking on their international career.
Paddy Jackson, named in the original squad, is unavailable for personal reasons but will fly out to Japan in time for the two Test series against the Brave Blossoms, with Joey Carbery in line to start at 10 on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old is the only recognised out-half available to Schmidt and it will be a huge chance for the Leinster man to operate in that position in a green shirt having made his debut in that historic win over New Zealand in Chicago.
Andrew Porter, Dave Heffernan, James Ryan, Kieran Treadwell, John Cooney, Rory Scannell, Rory O’Loughlin and Jacob Stockdale are all in line to make their debuts in what could be a hugely exciting XV Schmidt sends out to face USA.
The head coach will name his team later today but who would you like to see given their chance in New York on Saturday evening?
Pick your XV from the squad below and let us know who you’d include in the comments section.
Ireland squad:
Props
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 67 caps
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 6 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps
Hookers
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 4 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) uncapped
Second rows
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) uncapped
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 47 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster) uncapped
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 1 cap
Back row forwards
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1 cap
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 13 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
Scrum-halves
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps
John Cooney (Connacht) uncapped
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Out-halves
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 3 caps
Centres:
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster) 9 caps
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) uncapped
Wingers:
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 1 cap
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 59 caps
Rory O’Loughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster) uncapped
Fullbacks:
Tiernan O’Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 33 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) uncapped
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Ireland open thread opportunity knocks summer tests