The English sportswriter John Hopkins once described tours of New Zealand by the British and Irish Lions as a cross between a medieval crusade and a prep school outing.

He is trying to fill the biggest void ever in Irish rugby but Darren Cave is just going to concentrate on producing the game of his life tomorrow and not think too much about the fact Brian O’Driscoll was the previous incumbent of the number he is wearing.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has named the team for the first Test against Argentina in Resistencia on Saturday (kick-off 3.40pm local time/7.40pm Irish time).

Former Munster prop Freddy Pucciariello has warned Joe Schmidt’s men to expect a hostile welcome in the outposts where their two Tests take place this month.

The world must seem like one giant melting pot at times to Joe Schmidt as he monitors events simultaneously in several continents, but even he must have found it incongruous this week to find a native Argentinian teaching him how to play hurling.

Ireland forwards coach John Plumtree will stand down after the forthcoming tour of Argentina, the Irish Rugby Football Union has confirmed.

Hand surgery has denied Robbie Henshaw first refusal on Brian O’Driscoll’s Ireland berth after the Connacht centre was ruled out of next month’s tour of Argentina.

Ireland’s two-Test tour of Argentina next month looks significantly less daunting after their South American hosts revealed a squad yesterday that is devoid of their big-name players.

Paddy Jackson will miss Ireland’s summer tour to Argentina due to a stress fracture in his lower back.

David Nucifora will be installed as the Irish Rugby Football Union’s high performance director in time for the summer tour to Argentina.