Ireland unveils exciting team to face Italy
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland revealed their team to play Italy at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday.
Rhys Ruddock will captain the side having previously worn the armband for the duration of the 2017 July tour of the USA and Japan. He is joined in the back row by Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.
Andrew Porter and Jack McGrath pack down either side of Niall Scannell in the front row with Tadhg Beirne and Quinn Roux teaming up in the second row.
Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery are named as the halfback combination with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose at inside and outside centre respectively.
Jordon Larmour starts at fullback with Andrew Conway and Jacob Stockdale on the wings.
The uncapped Ross Byrne and Will Addison are named in the replacements along with Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy and John Cooney.
Ireland: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Will Addison
Date: Saturday, November 3
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
Kick-off: 15:00 (20:00 UK & Ireland Time; 20.00 GMT; 21.00 Italy time)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: David Ardrey (USA)
Here’s your Ireland team for #IREvITA @TheRugbyWeekend in Soldier Field.#shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/7mWEJVGqeS
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 1, 2018
