Rugby: Ireland take on Samoa

Ireland take on Samoa in a friendly international rugby fixture at Lansdowne Road today.

The game is anything but a friendly for Irish coach Warren Gatland who still finds himself on trial despite his team’s win against England in the Six Nations tournament.

Gatland wants a two-year extension to his current contract that would see him through to the next Rugby World Cup.

The Irish management is using the game as a chance to give some fringe members of the squad a run-out and rest the first-team players that will be expected to start against New Zealand next weekend.

The experimental appearance of the Irish side that will line-up today includes Emmett Byrne and Frankie Sheahan in the front row, the selection of Anthony Foley as captain and the use of Geordan Murphy, Jeremy Staunton and Tyrone Howe as the back three.

Howe was called up as a late replacement for Leinster winger, Gordon D’Arcy who had to cry-off when he suffered a hamstring injury in training on Friday.

The match kicks-off today at two o’clock this afternoon.