Billy Burns & Stuart McCloskey start for Ireland

Billy Burns & Stuart McCloskey start for Ireland

The Ireland Coaching Team have named the side to play Georgia in the Guinness Series at Aviva Stadium on Sunday. The uncapped Shane Daly is included in a much changed match day 23 that will again be captained by James Ryan.

Ryan is joined in the 2nd Row by Iain Henderson and they will pack down behind a front row of Finlay Bealham at loosehead, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter. Tadhg Beirne is selected on the blindside flank, Will Connors is at openside and CJ Stander reverts to No.8.

Billy Burns, whose deft chip put Jacob Stockdale in for a try against England, starts for the first time having won two caps off the bench. He is joined by the vastly experienced Conor Murray who wins his 86th cap.

In the centre Stuart McCloskey will win his 4th cap when he starts alongside Chris Farrell while Jacob Stockdale is at fullback with Hugo Keenan and Keith Earls on the wings.

Shane Daly, who won the Energia All-Ireland League with Cork Constitution in 2019, will be aiming to make his international debut off the bench. He’s named with Kieran Marmion and Ross Byrne as backline cover.


Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Quinn Roux and Peter O’Mahony are the forward replacements.

15. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 31 caps
14. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
13. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 12 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster) 3 caps
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 86 caps
10. Billy Burns (UIster) 2 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 85 caps


1. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 13 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 14 caps
3. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 30 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster) 56 caps
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 30 caps Captain
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 16 caps
7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 44 caps

Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht) 4 caps
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 102 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 21 caps
19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 14 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 71 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 27 caps
22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 9 caps
23. Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster) uncapped

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