O’Brien out of Ireland A clash with Jaguars as Croker bench role likely

THE omission of Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien from the squad for tomorrow night’s A international against Argentina Jaguars suggests he is on standby to replace Denis Leamy on the bench against South Africa on Saturday should the Tipperary man fail to recover from an ankle injury.

Munster and Ireland second-row Mick O’Driscoll has been honoured with the captaincy of the side for the clash with the Jaguars in the first rugby match to be staged at the new Tallaght Stadium (7.30pm).

O’Driscoll leads a strong Irish side that contains seven full internationals with recognition for the players who enjoyed Churchill Cup glory in the United States last June. Thirteen of that squad are included in the 22.

The team to take on the Jaguars shows as many as10 changes from the starting XV that defeated Tonga 48-19 at Ravenhill a fortnight ago. Munster’s Felix Jones and Ian Dowling come into the back division in place of Gavin Duffy and Shane Horgan. Johne Murphy, on the bench against Tonga, starts instead of Andrew Trimble and there’s no place in the centre for Ulster’s Darren Cave, scorer of two tries against Tonga.

Fergus McFadden, voted “most valuable player” in the Churchill Cup campaign, moves to outside centre instead of Cave while Keith Matthews of Connacht is called up at 12.

John Fogarty, who was originally due to play against Tonga but remained with the senor team as cover for Jerry Flannery, starts at hooker in place of his injured brother Denis. There are two new second rows in Ryan Caldwell and captain O’Driscoll as Devin Toner is rotated out and Donnacha Ryan starts in the back-row. He is joined there by Niall Ronan at openside, in place of O’Brien, and John Muldoon who will play No 8, with Chris Henry reverting to the replacements.

Tickets for the game are still available from the O2 Store in the Square shopping centre in Tallaght and at the gates on the night.