Thursday, 7 June 2012

Kidney Names Two New Caps


Ireland coach Declan Kidney will give debuts to Simon Zebo and Declan Fitzpatrick for Saturday's first Test against New Zealand.

Fitzpatrick starts at tighthead after Mike Ross failed to overcome a hamstring strain, while Munster's Zebo is on the wing with Fergus McFadden on the opposite flank.

Brian O'Driscoll returns after missing the Six Nations with a trapped nerve while lock Dan Touhy makes his first start after making his first appearance from the bench in 2010.

Jonathan Sexton retains the starting berth at No 10 with Conor Murray behind the scrum.

"I think when you're playing the world champions in their own back yard, first game after the World Cup you need to be at the top of your game," Kidney said. "There are no secrets about that.

"But we believe that if we do that then we are in with a good shout."

O'Driscoll added: "I missed the Six Nations so I am hugely excited about putting a green jersey back on.

"The last time was during the World Cup and that seems like an eternity ago.

"(But) you're playing the world champions, after rightly winning the crown. It's a huge challenge and a huge opportunity."

Ireland: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Fergus McFadden, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12-Keith Earls, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-Sean O'Brien, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 5-Donnacha Ryan, 4-Dan Touhy, 3-Declan Fitzpatrick,2-Rory Best, 1-Cian Healy
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Ronan Loughney, 18-Donncha O'Callaghan, 19-Kevin McLaughlin, 20-Eoin Reddan, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Darren Cave

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