Ireland end Casey exile
London Irish lock back eight years after last appearance
Last updated: 22nd May 2008
Casey: Starting place
London Irish captain Bob Casey is set to return the Ireland side for the first time in eight years for the clash against the Barbarians on Tuesday.
The giant lock, the inspiration behind the Exiles' charge towards the Heineken Cup semi-finals, last played for his country in 2000 - however he has been included in the side to take the select XV at Kingsholm.
Although Casey will not add to his five caps in the match - with it not clashed as a Test - it is a sign that the end of Eddie O'Sullivan's reign has ended his exile in the international wilderness.
Interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley, who looks after the side until Declan Kidney takes over in the summer, has named a strong side for the friendly - with Brian O'Driscoll retaining the captaincy.
There is a first call up for prop Mike Ross, with the Harlequins ace hoping to force his way into the reckoning for the Test matches Down Under.
Exciting
With Ronan O'Gara unavailable because of his Heineken Cup commitments at Munster, Ulsterman Paddy Wallace gets a rare start at fly-half.
Only Rory Best, Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Tommy Bowe and Jamie Heaslip survive from Ireland's last match - the 33-10 RBS Six Nations mauling by England.
Bradley said: "Barbarian 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 experimental law variations.
"The match 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."
Ireland: 15 R Kearney (Leinster), 14 S Horgan (Leinster), 13 B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), 12 L Fitzgerald (Leinster), 11 T Bowe (Ospreys), 10 P Wallace (Ulster), 9 I Boss (Ulster), 1 B Young (Ulster), 2 R Best (Ulster), 3 M Ross (Harlequins), 4 B Casey (London Irish), 5 M O'Kelly (Leinster), 6 S Ferris (Ulster), 7 S Jennings (Leinster), 8 J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: 16 B Jackman (Leinster), 17 T Court, (Ulster), 18 R Caldwell, (Ulster), 19 N Best (Ulster), 20 F Murphy (Leicester), 21 J Sexton (Leinster), 22 G Dempsey (Leinster).
Six Nations Top 6
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wales | 5 | 10 |
| 2 | England | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | France | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | Ireland | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Scotland | 5 | 2 |
| 6 | Italy | 5 | 2 |
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Comments
Daire Sweeney says...
I think its about time bob got a chance, he is a wonderful player and a leader up front!!
Posted 02:16 23rd May 2008
Brian Moran says...
disgraceful that paddy wallace is starting for ireland at 10!! what more can johnathan sexton do to get a starting place!! he is clearly a better 10 than wallace and has had far more game time at 10 this season!! just awful!!
Posted 18:52 22nd May 2008
Shaun Cunningham says...
Bob Casey's call up to the Irish national side is well overdue; he has consistently been the most outstanding lock in the Guinness Premiership for the past two seasons. His steal record at lineout is second to none and how Eddie O Sullivan could overlook him is beyond me. With the exception of one Geordan Murphy no other English based Irish player got a look in the national side and in fact Eddie O Sullivan's policy has lost the likes of Shane Geraghty to England. Well done Bob, now take your chance and show all the doubters wrong
Posted 16:34 22nd May 2008
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