Four Ulstermen to make Ireland debuts
Four Ulster players will make their Ireland debuts on Saturday night as they face the USA in Dublin in the final fixture of the Summer Series.
Tom O'Toole starts in the front row, with Nick Timoney lining out at openside flanker. James Hume starts at inside center, in there alongside provincial partner Stu McCloskey, with Robert Baloucoune on the right wing. Will Addison has been named among the replacements.
James Ryan wears the captain’s armband and is partnered in the second row by Ryan Baird who makes his first start for Ireland. In the backrow Caelan Doris switches to the blindside flank to accommodate Gavin Coombes at No.8 with Timoney lining out at openside.
In the front row O’Toole is set to make his international debut alongside Ronan Kelleher and Dave Kilcoyne.
Craig Casey will make his first start for Ireland and will partner his provincial colleague Joey Carbery at half-back. Stuart McCloskey retains the inside centre berth and is joined by fellow Ulsterman debutant James Hume. Hugo Keenan starts his 13th consecutive game for Ireland and is supported in the back field by Andrew Conway and the uncapped Robert Baloucoune.
The replacements include Dave Heffernan, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Will Addison and the uncapped quartet Fineen Wycherley, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade and Harry Byrne.
Andy Farrell and his coaching team have named the Ireland side to face the USA at the Aviva Stadium in the final fixture of the Vodafone Summer Series.
James Ryan wears the captain’s armband and is partnered in the second row by Ryan Baird who makes his first start for Ireland. In the backrow Caelan Doris switches to the blindside flank to accommodate Gavin Coombes at No.8 with the uncapped Nick Timoney lining out at openside.
In the front row Tom O’Toole is set to make his international debut alongside Ronan Kelleher and Dave Kilcoyne.
Craig Casey will make his first start for Ireland and will partner his provincial colleague Joey Carbery at half-back. Stuart McCloskey retains the inside centre berth and is joined by fellow Ulsterman debutant James Hume. Hugo Keenan starts his 13th consecutive game for Ireland and is supported in the back field by Andrew Conway and the uncapped Robert Baloucoune.
The replacements include Dave Heffernan, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Will Addison and the uncapped quartet Fineen Wycherley, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade and Harry Byrne.
Ireland team to play USA – 10th July 2021, Aviva Stadium
- Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 12 caps
- Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped
- James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
- Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 5 caps
- Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
- Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 23 caps
- Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 2 caps
- Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 44 caps
- Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 12 caps
- Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
- Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 4 caps
- James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 36 caps captain
- Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 8 caps
- Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
- Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 1 cap
Replacements
- Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
- Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 5 caps
- Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 15 caps
- Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
- Paul Boyle (Connacht/Buccaneers) uncapped
- Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped
- Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
- Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps