Ross to make debut against Baa-Baas

Harlequins prop forward Mike Ross has been named in Ireland's starting 15 for the match against the Barbarians in Kingsholm, Gloucester next Tuesday.

Ross, making his senior Irish debut, will join Rory Best and Bryan Young in the frontrow.

Ireland Coach Michael Bradley recalled Bob Casey to the secondrow alongside the experienced Malcolm O'Kelly for the non-capped summer tour warm-up game.

The backrow sees Jamie Heaslip, who was first choice No 8 throughout the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship, joined by his Leinster colleague Shane Jennings and Ulster's Stephen Ferris in a new combination.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald will form a new partnership in the backline.

Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace are the halfbacks and the back three contains Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe on the wings with Rob Kearney at full back.

Bradley also named four uncapped players - Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, Jonathon Sexton and Frank Murphy - among the replacements.

The Ireland coach said: "These games are always exciting, high tempo matches.  From that perspective it will be good preparation for us as we head into the tour where the teams have been playing a fast and loose game under the new ELV's".

"The Baabaa's game will be important for the players to get up to that pace of play before we arrive in New Zealand and also for the Churchill Cup players in the match squad ahead of their tour.  Overall, the array of talent that the Baba's will have on show is of the highest calibre, so it will be good test for us, but I think we can get an awful lot out of the game ahead of the tour".

Commenting on the new Centre partnership Bradley said: "I suppose one of the main talking points of the selection will be the new centre partnership as there has been plenty of discussion about where Luke's (Fitzgerald) best position is.

"This was the ideal opportunity to try Luke in midfield in a pressure situation against quality opposition and both he and Brian (O'Driscoll) have enough talent to make it work".

Ireland Team To Play Barbarians:

Player/Club/Province
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (Captain)
12 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
11 - Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
9 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
1 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
2 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Harlequins)
4 - Bob Casey (London Irish)
5 - Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements
16 - Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Ballymena/Ulster)
18 - Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)
19 - Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
20 - Frank Murphy (Leicester)
21 - Jonathon Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
22 - Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)