Ireland have one final stop in the Summer Nations Series schedule, with a Pacific Island roadblock in their way to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Andy Farrell’s men take on Samoa this Saturday in the Southwestern France town of Bayonne, with Farrell fielding a stacked squad for this final warm-up match.
The Stade Jean-Dauger will host this ‘friendly match’, with Ireland looking to build upon their two previous Summer Nations Series wins against Six Nations rivals Italy and England. The men from the Emerald Isle recorded to rather routine victories, by first despatching off the Azzurri 33-17, before running through Steve Borthwick’s side for a 29-10 triumph in Dublin.
With little over two weeks to go, before Ireland begin their Rugby World Cup campaign with a Pool B clash with Romania, Iain Henderson returns to captain the side following the prolonged ban absence of Johnny Sexton.
Hot off scoring a photo-finish diving try on his 100th Ireland test match, Keith Earls is recalled to the wing, with Jimmy O’Brien and Mack Hansen rounding off the back three. Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey start in the midfield, ahead of the all-Munster half-back partnership of Jack Crowley and Conor Murray. This duo were instrumental in Munster’s 2023 URC title triumph, and look to bring the same winning formula to the national team.
In the pack, Cian Healy and Finlay Bealham are selected either side of Tom Stewart, who is set for his first Ireland start having made his debut off the bench against Italy. Henderson partners Tadhg Beirne in the locks with Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris wrapping up the back row.
The match kicks off at 7:45pm (UK and Ireland time), and will be shown live on Amazon Prime in the UK and Northern Ireland, and on RTÉ2 in the Republic of Ireland. Amazon Prime subscribers who sign up today can watch the match for free, with a 30-day free trial.
IRELAND TEAM TO PLAY SAMOA – 2023 SUMMER NATIONS SERIES
Back Three
15. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster – 6 Caps)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht – 15 Caps)
11. Keith Earls (Munster – 100 Caps)
Centres
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster – 64 Caps)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster -13 Caps)
Halfbacks
10. Jack Crowley (Munster – 5 Caps)
9. Conor Murray (Munster – 106 Caps)
Front Row
1. Cian Healy (Leinster – 124 Caps)
2. Tom Stewart (Ulster – 1 Cap)
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht – 31 Caps)
Second Row
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster – captain – 73 Caps)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster – 40 Caps)
Back Row
6. Ryan Baird (Leinster – 12 Caps)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster – 51 Caps)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster – 30 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ulster – 36 Caps)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Munster – 2 Caps)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster -10 Caps)
19. James Ryan (Leinster – 54 Caps)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster – 95)
21. Craig Casey (Munster – 11 Caps)
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster – 20 Caps)
23. Garry Ringrose (Leinster – 51 Caps)