Ireland team to play Barbarians named

Coach Michael Bradley has named the Ireland team to play the Barbarians in Kingsholm, Gloucester next Tuesday in their summer tour warm up game.

Thu, 22 May, 2008 - 15:28

Coach Michael Bradley has named the Ireland team to play the Barbarians in Kingsholm, Gloucester next Tuesday in their summer tour warm up game.

In the forwards, Bob Casey makes a return to an Ireland jersey as he is named in the secondrow alongside the experienced Malcolm O'Kelly. Harlequins prop Mike Ross will make his senior Ireland debut in the non capped match in the frontrow with Rory Best and Bryan Young.

The backrow sees Jamie Heaslip, who was first choice No.8 throughout the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship, joined by his Leinster colleague Shane Jennings and Ulster's Stephen Ferris in a new combination.

In the backline, Captain Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald will form a new centre partnership for the first time. Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace are the halfbacks and the back three contains Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe on the wings with Rob Kearney at full back.

In the replacements, there are four uncapped players in Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, Jonathon Sexton and Frank Murphy.

Commenting on the game, Coach Michael Bradley said, "These games are always exciting, high tempo matches. From that perspective it will be good preparation for us as we head into the tour where the teams have been playing a fast and loose game under the new ELV's".

"The Baba's game will be important for the players to get up to that pace of play before we arrive in New Zealand and also for the Churchill Cup players in the match squad ahead of their tour. Overall, the array of talent that the Baba's will have on show is of the highest calibre, so it will be good test for us , but I think we can get an awful lot out of the game ahead of the tour".

Commenting on the new Centre partnership Bradley said: "I suppose one of the main talking points of the selection will be the new centre partnership as there has been plenty of discussion about where Luke's (Fitzgerald) best position is. This was the ideal opportunity to try Luke in midfield in a pressure situation against quality opposition and both he and Brian (O'Driscoll) have enough talent to make it work".

Ireland Team:

Player Club/Province

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll Captain (UCD/Leinster)

12 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

11 - Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

10 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

9 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

1 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)

2 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

3 - Mike Ross (Harlequins)