Rugby: Big guns back for Ireland
Ireland have recalled their big guns for Saturday’s Test with New Zealand as they aim to score a long-awaited victory over the All Blacks.
Coach Warren Gatland rested several players for last Sunday’s international against Samoa, which the Irish won comfortably by 35-8.
But the Kiwis present a step up in class for the Irish at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and so Gatland will send out the same team which beat England in Dublin last month.
Captain Keith Wood is recalled to lead the men in green a day after being named intenrational player of the year while also back are fly-half David Humphreys, winger Denis Hickie and flanker David Wallace, who missed the Samoan victory through injury.
New Zealand coach John Mitchell will name his side tomorrow afternoon.
Ireland: G Dempsey (Terenure), S Horgan (Lansdowne), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock), K Maggs (Bath), D Hickie (St Mary’s), D Humphreys (Dungannon), P Stringer (Shannon); P Clohessy (Young Munster),
K Wood (Harlequins) captain, J Hayes (Shannon), M Galwey (Shannon), M O'Kelly (St Mary’s), E Miller (Terenure), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Foley (Munster).
Replacements: F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), E Byrne (Leinster), G Longwell (Ballymena), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Guy Easterby
(Llanelli), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), Mike Mullins (Young Munster).
