Ulster rugby’s John Cooney will make his first start this weekend for Ireland alongside Joey Carberry in the half-back berths as head coach Joe Schmidt rings the changes for a near wholesale collection of new starters from last weekend’s victory.
In all, there’s 14 changes in personnel from the famous win over New Zealand. Only Leinster’s Garry Ringrose is retained from the side that started last week’s win over the all-blacks. The centre is partnered by Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey in midfield.
Rhys Ruddock captain’s the side and is joined in the backrow by Jordi Murphy and Jack Conan. Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne form the second row with Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Finlay Bealham filling the front row slots.
Will Addison lines out at fullback supported by Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam on the wings.
IRELAND v USA
Player / Club / Province / Caps
15. Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster), 14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster), 13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), 12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), 11. Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution/Munster), 10. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster), 9. John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster), 1. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
2. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), 3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 5. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster), 6. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) captain. 7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster), 8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 22. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 23. Sam Arnold (Garryowen/Munster)
Here's your Ireland team to play @USARugby in the final test match of the #GuinnessSeries#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder #IREvUSA pic.twitter.com/5E6ryvRSjc
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 22, 2018
BIG NEWS | Men's Eagles name match-day 23 to face @IrishRugby for the final battle of Autumn Internationals 2018 this Saturday.
Kickoff is 1:30 PM ET, LIVE on ESPN+.
MORE » https://t.co/iM3fFe3cNo#EaglesUnited 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QFMFTmQobj
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) November 22, 2018
