Craig Casey captains Ireland as Paul O'Connell hands two debuts

Craig Casey at Ireland Squad Training. Pic: Leah Scholes, Inpho

Craig Casey will captain Ireland for the first time against Georgia on Saturday evening in Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local, 6pm Irish time).

Casey forms a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast, with Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne set to link up in midfield for Paul O'Connell's side. Winger Tommy O’Brien will make his debut in a back three which includes his provincial colleague Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale who is set to earn his 39th cap.

Stockdale needs one more try to become the 21st Irish player to score 100+ points for Ireland and the first since Jack Crowley. It would also move him to Ireland’s outright 6th leading try scorer and he currently shares that position with Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy.

The second starting debutant sees Connacht’s Darragh Murray form a second-row partnership alongside Cormac Izuchukwu. Jack Boyle, hooker Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson start in the front row with Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney and number eight Gavin Coombes named in the back-row to complete the starting pack.

In all there are potentially four further debutants on the replacements bench with Munster duo Michael Milne and Tom Ahern as well as Connacht pair Jack Aungier and scrum-half Ben Murphy set to make their respective international bows. The quartet are joined by Tom Stewart, Cian Prendergast and Calvin Nash.

Casey will become the 112th Ireland Test captain since 1875. He is the third scrum-half to captain Ireland in the professional era after Niall Hogan (3 times) and Eoin Reddan (once).

Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture, Paul O’Connell said:

“I have been impressed by the application of the squad ahead of this two-Test tour and Saturday’s game presents an exciting opportunity for this group of players. To Craig (Casey), I would like to congratulate him on his first game as captain. Craig has taken to captaincy impressively. He’s going to relish leading his country and I know how keen he is to make his mark alongside the rest of the players.

"This weekend is also an extra special one for six players who are set to make their international debuts. To Tommy and Darragh, who get the chance to start, as well as the four others who will be ready to make their mark from the bench, I wish them well and the squad are determined to make it a memorable occasion for them and their families. Though light in terms of international caps in some areas, there’s also a nice blend of experience in the squad.” 

IRELAND: J O’Brien (Leinster), T O’Brien (Leinster), J Osborne (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Stockdale (Ulster), S Prendergast (Leinster), C Casey (Munster)(captain); J Boyle (Leinster), G McCarthy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), D Murray (Connacht), R Baird (Leinster)(27), N Timoney (Ulster)(3), G Coombes (Munster)

Replacements: T Stewart (Ulster), M Milne (Munster)  J Aungier (Connacht), TAhern (Munster), C Prendergast (Connacht), B Murphy (Connacht), J Crowley (Munster), C Nash (Y Munster)