Earls Debut For Ireland

In the opening game of the Guinness International Series 2008, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has announced the Irish XV that will take on Canada in Thomond Park on Saturday the 8th of November.

Munster’s Keith Earls will receive his first Irish cap as he lines out at fullback on Saturday. 

He will be joined by fellow Munster player Ronan O’ Gara in the backs and a Munster front five of Paul O’ Connell, Donncha O’ Callaghan, Tony Buckley, Jerry Flannery and Marcus Horan.    

Ireland Team v Canada Saturday 8th November, Thomond Park, ko 17.15

15 – Keith Earls* (Young Munster/Munster)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
11 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
10 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 – Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
2 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 – Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements to be selected from the following 8:
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

*Denotes New Cap