Young Leinster duo on Ireland bench for New Zealand Test in Chicago
Friday 4 November 2016 15:23, UK
Leinster youngsters Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery face potentially the most daunting of Test debuts when Ireland take on New Zealand in Chicago on Saturday.
Centre Ringrose and fly-half Carbery will take seats on Ireland's bench for the keenly-anticipated Soldier Field showdown with the record-breaking, back-to-back world champions.
Head coach Joe Schmidt has resisted the temptation to pitch the richly-talented Ringrose in from the off, with Jared Payne starting at outside centre.
British & Irish Lions cap Rob Kearney returns at full-back, with Schmidt perhaps mindful not to heap too much pressure on rookie half-back Carbery.
Leinster's 20-year-old playmaker has made just nine senior appearances so far, but boasts the potential and pedigree to cope with the steep learning curve.
Ireland's resources are stretched by Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson's late absence due to personal reasons, leaving Carbery deputising for Johnny Sexton.
So however serious any of Schmidt's thoughts would have been around starting Ringrose, that would doubtless have been tempered by covering for an early injury to Sexton, in which case Carbery would be catapulted into battle.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Devin Toner, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 6 CJ Stander, 7 Jordi Murphy, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Garry Ringrose.
