Ireland Rugby Mens Team Named For Second Test In New Zealand

The Ireland team to play New Zealand in the second test of the summer tour has been named and shows four changes from the starting XV that took the field in the first test.

Gordon D’Arcy starts at inside centre in place of Keith Earls, who was not considered for selection due to a chest injury that he picked up in the first test. D’Arcy’s selection reunites him with Brian O’Driscoll to start their 48th international as Ireland’s centre partnership.

Elsewhere in the backline, Andrew Trimble comes onto the left wing in place of Simon Zebo, who is named in the replacements in place of Darren Cave.

Kevin McLaughlin, who came on in the second half of the first test, is named in the back row, with Peter O’Mahony swapping places to move into the replacements. Mike Ross comes back into the team in place of Declan Fitzpatrick at tight head, with Fitzpatrick moving to the replacements instead of Ronan Loughney.

Ireland Team & replacements (2st test v New Zealand, Steinlager Series, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday, 16th June 2012, kick-off 7.35pm:

15 – Rob Kearney (UCD – Leinster)
14 – Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD – Leinster) Captain
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster)
11 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena – Ulster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College – Leinster)
9 – Conor Murray (Garryowen – Munster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf – Leinster)
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf – Leinster)
4 – Dan Touhy (Ballymena – Ulster)
5 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon – Munster)
6 – Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary’s College – Leinster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf – Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster)

Replacements:

16 – Sean Cronin (St.Mary’s College – Leinster)
17 – Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon – Ulster)
18 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution – Munster)
19 – Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution – Munster)
20 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne – Leinster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution – Munster)
22 – Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution – Munster)