Test Rugby: Canada v Ireland

08.11.2008
Canada v Ireland in Limerick

Preview
The Canadians are fresh from a 21-13 victory over Portugal last weekend. Coming into their squad are a number of European-based players drafted in during the November club release period. This will bolster a side who will need to play out of their skins to defeat this Irish Side.

Ireland is a strange side. They haven't been going too well lately and yet they persist with an ageing pack. They don't have much choice as the older brigade are doing very well thank you for their provinces Munster and leinster in European club competition. So I think we are going to see more of the ho hum from Ireland unless of course new boss Declan Kidney can inject new life into them.

Incidentaly three of the Irish are all hovering on 84 test caps. I wonder if there is a race in it? Who'll be the first to their century. Mind you just ahead of those boys is one John Hayes on 86. Problem is he is 35 years young and..ar..well..you see, its me knees!

All in all a good outing for the Irish without too many problems but be careful, those Canadians might just outlast some of those ageing knees.

Prevoius Encounters
19.05.2007 Ireland 'A' 39-20 in Exeter (Churchill Cup)
17.06.2000 Drawn 27-27 in Toronto
30.11.1997 Ireland 33-11 in Dublin
02.09.1988 Ireland XV 24-21 in Victoria
30.05.1987 Ireland 46-19 in Dunedin (World Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Ireland 12th, Canada 17th

Prediction: Ireland by 25 points

Teams

Ireland
15 Keith Earls (Munster) Age 21, New Cap
14 Thomas Bowe (Neath Swansea Ospreys, Wales) 24, 15
13 Brian O'Driscoll, Capt. (Leinster) 29, 84
12 Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster) 21, 4
11 Robert Kearney (Leinster) 23, 8
10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster) 31, 84
9 Eoin Reddan (London Wasps, England) 28, 12
8 James Heaslip (Leinster) 24, 10
7 Shane Jennings (Leinster) 27, 1
6 Stephen Ferris (Ulster) 23, 5
5 Paul O'Connell (Munster) 29, 54
4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster) 29, 47
3 Anthony Buckley (Munster) 28, 9
2 Jeremy Flannery (Munster) 30, 23
1 Marcus Horan (Munster) 31, 58
Replacements
16 Rory Best (Ulster) 26, 24
17 John Hayes (Munster) 35, 86
18 Alan Quinlan (Munster) 34, 25
19 David Wallace (Munster) 32, 47
20 Peter Stringer (Munster) 31, 84
21 Patrick Wallace (Ulster) 29, 10
22 Shane Horgan (Leinster) 30, 63
Head Coach: Declan Kidney

http://www.irishrugby.ie/13910_14940.php

Canada
15 James Pritchard (Bedford Blues, England) Aged 27, 21 tests
14 Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers) , New Cap
13 Bryn Keys (Velox Valhallians) 22, 2
12 Ryan Smith (Calgary Irish) 28, 37
11 Justin Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion, England) 24, 10
10 Ander Monro (Colorno, Italy) 26, 9
9 Edward Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates, England) 29, 37
8 Aaron Carpenter (Cowichan RFC) 24, 17
7 Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria) 24, 12
6 Sean Michael Stephen (Plymouth Albion, England) 25, 13
5 Joshua Jackson (Bordeaux Begles, France) 27, 18
4 Michael Burak (Cornish Pirates, England) 27, 15
3 Jon Thiel (Bayside Sharks) 33, 42
2 Patrick Riordan, Capt. (University of Victoria) 28, 18
1 Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) 31, 40
Replacements
16 Michael Pletch (Velox Valhallians) 25, 17
17 Frank Walsh (Vandals RFC) ?, 1
18 Tyler Hotson (Northern Suburbs RFC, Australia) 23, 2
19 Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers) 22, 1
20 Morgan Williams (James Bay Athletic Association) 32, 54
21 Matthew Evans (Hartpury College, England) 20, New Cap
22 Phillip Mackenzie (University of Victoria) 21, 1
Head Coach: Kieran Crowley

Regulars Jamie Cudmore, Colin Yukes, David Spicer, DTH van der Merwe and Luke Tait are unavailable

For a list of all international rugby matches played by Ireland, and by Canada, go to www.rugbyinternational.net