RUGBY:PETER STRINGER and Geordan Murphy are set to be recalled to the Irish team when it is announced today for Sunday's last of the Guinness Series at the Aviva Stadium against Argentina. All told, the starting XV is likely to show five changes from the side which kicked off against New Zealand.
Three of those are injury-enforced, with Murphy returning for his first cap since last season’s Six Nations in place of the sidelined Rob Kearney, and Andrew Trimble returning in place of the injured Luke Fitzgerald.
With Rory Best another casualty of the defeat to New Zealand, Seán Cronin is also set to regain the number two jersey.
Even one of the other anticipated changes sees the return, from injury, of Munster tighthead Tony Buckley in place of Tom Court; that selection had been sign-posted by John Hayes being re-routed back to Munster, and Mike Ross looks set to miss out again.
The one change, therefore, which is not in part caused by the return or unavailability of players due to injury is the return of Stringer ahead of Eoin Reddan for what amounts to Stringer’s first Test start against front-line opposition since the penultimate leg of the Grand Slam two seasons ago in Murrayfield. Stringer’s selection, along with that of Murphy, would indicate Ireland will try to play a high-tempo game.
Given the opportunity to rotate or experiment is more obvious during the November window, Seán O’Brien will have been disappointed to miss out as Declan Kidney and co appear set to retain all of the back five in the pack.
Meanwhile, Dan Carter says becoming world rugby’s top points scorer will be a “special” moment, but insists his only focus is on helping New Zealand complete a Grand Slam tour of the Home Unions with victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.
The Canterbury outhalf needs just three points to overtake Jonny Wilkinson’s record of 1,178 as Test rugby’s leading points accumulator, and is almost certain to do so against a Welsh side the tourists are expected to see off with something to spare.
But the 28-year-old is more worried about helping the All Blacks secure a third clean sweep of Britain and Ireland in six seasons.
“I probably will be a bit nervous,” he said. “But it’s about putting the team first and doing my job to better the team and win the Grand Slam. That is more important than any record. If we score four tries and I miss the kicks but we win I will be happy – although actually I’d be pretty annoyed if I missed four kicks!
“I am not big on records but this is something very special and if I get the three points and get that record I will be very proud.”
He won the first of his 78 caps against the men in red in a 55-3 demolition in Hamilton in 2003 and he has gone on to gather 150 points in his eight appearances against them, at an average of almost 19 points per game.
IRELAND (probable) v Argentina: G Murphy; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, P Stringer; C Healy, S Cronin, T Buckley, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip. Replacements: D Varley, T Court, D Toner, D Leamy, E Reddan, R O’Gara, K Earls.
NEW ZEALAND (v Wales): M Muliaina; I Toeava, C Smith, SB Williams, H Gear; D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: A Hore, J Afoa, A Boric, D Braid, A Ellis, S Donald, M Nonu.
WALES (v New Zealand): L Byrne; G North, T Shanklin, J Hook, T James; S Jones, M Phillips; G Jenkins, M Rees (capt), A Jones, B Davies, AW Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton, R Jones. Replacements: H Bennett, P James, J Thomas, A Powell, M Williams, R Rees, A Bishop.
ENGLAND (v South Africa): B Foden; C Ashton, M Tindall, S Hape, M Cueto; T Flood, B Youngs; A Sheridan, D Hartley, D Cole, C Lawes, T Palmer, T Croft, L Moody (capt), N Easter. Replacements: S Thompson, D Wilson, S Shaw, H Fourie, D Care, C Hodgson, M Banahan.
