Mayo man to captain Ireland in Autumn Nations Series clash
Having led the side in the Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy last February and in the second test defeat of South Africa in July, Mayo native Caelan Doris will once again captain Ireland in their upcoming Autumn Nations Series clash with New Zealand.
Doris, who commenced his rugby journey with Ballina RFC, will lead out the Irish team at a sold-out Aviva Stadium this Friday (November 8), with the game scheduled to kick off at 8.10 p.m.
Head coach Andy Farrell has also selected three Connacht players to start the game: Mack Hansen in the back three, Bundee Aki in midfield, and Finlay Bealham in the front row.
Hansen will be joined by Hugo Keenan and James Lowe to start in the Ireland back three, while Garry Ringrose has been selected to partner Bundee Aki in midfield. In the front row, Bealham takes his place alongside Rónan Kelleher and Andrew Porter.
Elsewhere, Jamison Gibson-Park returns to the number nine jersey alongside Jack Crowley at out-half. In the pack, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan start in the engine room, with Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier at openside, and Doris at number eight to complete the starting XV.
Farrell has experience to call upon from the replacements' bench, with Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony providing the forward reinforcements, while Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne are the backline options.
“I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal,” said Farrell in anticipation of Friday's game.
He added: “Since assembling at the IRFU High Performance Centre last week, the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team.
“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in the Aviva Stadium, and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side. The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night, under lights, with a home crowd roaring us on.”
Friday’s match is live on Virgin Media One in the Republic of Ireland and TNT Sports in the UK, while there is live radio commentary available on RTÉ Radio 1.
The Ireland starting XV is as follows: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
On the replacements' bench are: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.