Ireland is set to face off against Georgia in Tbilisi as international rugby continues its busy July schedule. Due to commitments with the British and Irish Lions, head coach Andy Farrell and his Six Nations replacement Simon Easterby will not be present, leaving former captain Paul O’Connell to take charge of the squad this summer.
The match kicks off at 6pm BST on Saturday, July 5, at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. While the game will not be televised live in the UK, Irish fans can watch it on Virgin Media.
Georgia, guided by former England hooker Richard Cockerill, boasts a line-up that mixes experienced players with emerging talent from the Black Lion club. Captain Beka Saghinadze leads a youthful team, yet one that is seasoned enough to compete, particularly with Akaki Tabutsadze, who has a remarkable record of 50 tries in 51 Tests, eyeing an all-time record, and Davit Niniashvili, a rising star set to join Ronan O’Gara at La Rochelle next season.
On the Irish side, Craig Casey steps up as captain for the first time, leading a robust squad filled with athletic talent. Debuts are on the cards for Tommy O’Brien and Darragh Murphy, with the backline featuring prominent players like Jacob Stockdale and Jimmy O’Brien. Gavin Coombes will fill in at No 8, compensating for the absence of the injured Caelan Doris, along with other fresh faces likely to emerge from the bench.
Georgia XV: 1 Giorgi Akhaladze, 2 Vano Karkadze, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri; 4 Mikheil Babunashvili, 5 Lado Chachanidze; 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 7 Beka Saghinadze (capt.), 8 Tornike Jalagonia; 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 10 Luka Matkava; 11 Sandro Todua, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze; 15 Davit Niniashvili.
Ireland XV: 1 Jack Boyle, 2 Gus McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson; 4 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Darragh Murray; 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Gavin Coombes; 9 Craig Casey (capt.), 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien; 15 Jimmy O’Brien.
This matchup not only promises a thrilling game but also gives an opportunity for young players to gain invaluable international experience, showcasing the spirit of rugby at its best.