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Here we go.
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named the Ireland Men’s Match Day Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for Saturday’s Gallagher Cup clash against New Zealand at Soldier Field (Kick-off 3.10pm local time/8.10pm Irish time).
Ireland kick off a busy block of Autumn fixtures with a Chicago rematch against New Zealand, nine years after the famous victory over the same opponents in the American city in 2016.
Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland for the second time at Soldier Field, while Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy is in line for his Test debut off the bench.
Farrell has named Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Stuart McCloskey partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield. Jack Crowley is selected to start at out-half, partnering Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, captain Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne in the engine room, and a back row of Ryan Baird at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier at openside and Jack Conan at number eight completing Ireland’s starting XV.
Farrell has strong options on the bench with Ronan Kelleher, the uncapped McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson and the returning Caelan Doris the forward replacements, while Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast and Bundee Aki provide the backline reinforcements.
Ireland (v New Zealand):
(Club/Province/Caps)
15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(8)
14. Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)(2)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(67)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(21)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(40)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(26)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(43)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(75)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(32)(captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(79)
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(72)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(61)
6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(29)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(73)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(51)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(39)
17. Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(85)
20. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(51)
21. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(20)
22. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(9)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(65).
* denotes uncapped
