Thursday 22 November 2012

Gilroy Debut Only Kidney Change


Craig Gilroy will win his first full cap after being chosen ahead of Ulster team-mate Andrew Trimble for Ireland's important Test match against Argentina.

Gilroy has been rewarded with the left-wing berth after his dazzling three-try performance in last weekend's uncapped international against Fiji.

It is the only change from Ireland's 16-12 defeat by South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on 10 November.

Jonathan Sexton has been passed fit to take his place at fly-half.

The Leinster number 10 was a late withdrawal from Ireland's replacements for the Fiji game in Limerick because of slight groin problem.

However, Irish management said that had merely been a precaution.

The game with Argentina has added significance as the winners will secure a place in the top eight of the IRB rankings which are used to determine the seedings for the 2015 World Cup.

The losers will slip into the third tier of seeds for the 3 December draw and face the possibility of being selected in a pool containing two major nations.

Ireland will be attempting to end a five-Test losing sequence, their worst run for 14 years.

If Argentina add to their misery on Saturday, Kidney's position will come under intense scrutiny.

Ireland are missing highly-influential Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney to injury, but the South Africa game was a missed opportunity to claim a prized southern hemisphere scalp.

Ireland: S Zebo; T Bowe, K Earls, G D'Arcy, C Gilroy; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross; D Ryan, M McCarthy; P O'Mahony, C Henry, J Heaslip (capt).

Replacements: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, M Bent, D O'Callaghan, I Henderson, E Reddan, R O'Gara , F McFadden.


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