Ireland will potentially have 8 new debutants by Saturday evening after joe Schmidt named an exciting squad to face Canada at the Aviva Stadium.
Garry Ringrose, Jack O’Donoghue and Billy Holland will all make their Test bows on Saturday as part of an Irish team that is entirely changed from the XV that started against New Zealand. In total, five players are making their first Ireland start.
Ringrose is the fresh face in the backline. He partners Luke Marshall of Ulster while Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy and Tiernan O’Halloran make up the back three. Kieran Marmion and Paddy Jackson are 9 and 10.
Up front, Cian Healy is joined by Sean Cronin and Finlay Bealham. Holland is in for his first Ireland start as is Dillane, who has thus far been an impact sub.
The back row has Peter O’Mahony, the captain, in with Sean O’Brien and O’Donoghue, a new face at No.8. The former Ireland U20 captain has been in fine form for Munster this season. Despite that, many had predicted O’Donoghue would only be on the bench.
The five newbies on the bench are James Tracy, John Ryan, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath and Niyi Adeolokun. There is no room in the squad for Iain Henderson, who injured his shoulder on Ulster duty last month.
IRELAND XV
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Luke Marshall
11. Keith Earls
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (c)
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jack O’Domoghue
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