Thursday, 14 June 2012

Kidney Prefers Heineken for Second Test


Declan Kidney has named 10 Leinster players in his line-up for Ireland's  second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

The inclusion of Kevin McLaughlin, Mike Ross and Gordon D'Arcy means the Heineken Cup champions will make up two-thirds of the Irish XV.

McLaughlin will team up with province team-mate Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row, while D'Arcy resumes his partnership with Brian O'Driscoll in the midfield.

Ross joins fellow prop Cian Healy in passing a fitness test to take his place in the front-row.

There is also a call-up for Ulster winger Andrew Trimble, with Simon Zebo dropping to the bench despite a lively display in the first Test defeat.

Kidney said: "It was a close call between Kevin and Peter O'Mahony. It is about freshening it up a bit but the fact that Kevin will be part of a back row unit [he has been in] many times before helps."

He added: "Usually a back row will plunder well if the front row are doing well ahead of them."

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Declan Fitzpatrick, 18 Donncha O'Callaghan, 19 Peter O'Mahony, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Simon Zebo.


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