Baa-Baas deny Irish at the death

A late Felipe Contepomi penalty handed defeat to an Ireland XV at Kingsholm on the eve of their three-Test tour to New Zealand.

The ad-hoc collection of internationals from across the rugby firmament needed a 78th-minute three-pointer to separate them from a Leinster-less Irish line-up in this non-cap game after the sides shared eight tries in an entertaining fixture.

More importantly for Ireland’s management as they prepare to finalise their 29-man squad today for the trip to New Zealand, r tour hopefuls Brett Wilkinson and Chris Henry appeared to be injury-free, although Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall got little chance to shine with just two minutes off the bench.