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Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Late change for Ireland as Cian Prendergast misses Georgia game through illness
Ireland have been forced into a late change in the matchday 23 for tonight's Test match against Georgia at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium (6pm, Irish time) after Connacht flanker Cian Prendergast succumbed to a gastro bug on the morning of the match. He is replaced on the bench by Leinster's Max Deegan. Earlier this year Prendergast pulled out of an Ireland Six Nations game against Wales because of illness and on that occasion was replaced by Ryan Baird. Deegan (28) will win his third cap if called on from the bench. Georgia head coach Richard Cockerill has his team primed and looking forward to a brilliant occasion. 'It's great to get one of the biggest rugby countries in the world to come here. They're the third best team in the world, they have been number one for a long time, just to show what a great place this is and how we're not going away. 'To host Ireland is great for us as a nation to say, 'look, we're actually credible here'. Hopefully we will put in a decent performance. We want to walk away feeling good about how we played and the Irish boys going, 'Jeez, these Georgia boys are tough to beat'. READ MORE 'We're 18 months into this project, we have a way how we want to play. Players are getting more familiar with that. We've got a pretty cohesive squad. We want to win, that goes without saying, but what we need is a performance that develops this team.' IRELAND : Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster); Tommy O'Brien (Leinster); Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster, capt); Jack Boyle (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Darragh Murray (Connacht); Ryan Baird (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Gavin Coombes (Munster). Replacements : Tom Stewart (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Jack Aungier (Connacht), Tom Ahern (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster).
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Craig Casey happy to lead Ireland into Georgia's ‘hostile environment'
A slate-grey sky threatened rain as Ireland completed their preparations for Saturday night's Test match against Georgia at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium (6pm Irish time, Virgin Media One). It arrived in the shape of a brief sprinkle, nothing like the biblical downpour that had caused flooding on the streets of Tbilisi on Wednesday. The pitch is in remarkable condition; a side-note is that is maintained by an Irish company. The game is anticipated to be a sell-out. There were a couple of hundred tickets left for the 27,223 capacity stadium at Friday lunchtime. Ireland and Georgia flags stand side by side along the motorway median strip leading into Tbilisi from the city's international airport. Elsewhere the game is less visible but, come kick-off, Ireland will be in no doubt about the Georgian passion for rugby, manifest in the raucous atmosphere that attends all their home games. Ireland's newest captain, Craig Casey , got to hold his first prematch press conference. He spoke about the honour and privilege, and the acute disappointment of missing the Six Nations, before offering an insight into his prematch ritual. READ MORE 'I like to watch an awful lot of video to get my mind in it. I watch a few scrumhalves to get the juices flowing and then I watch my best bits as well. 'I will still continue to do that. I just have to lead a meeting [on Friday night] for the first time. There is a tiny bit of stress with that, but I am delighted with it. I have loved the last two weeks, taking ownership of loads of things and leaning on a good few of the leaders.' He admitted it would be a 'special day' for him and his family but so too for the six uncapped players in Ireland's matchday squad. 'It's a special week for them and their families, unbelievable for them to make their first caps. 'It's a huge opportunity for all of us, but it's a massive privilege for us to put on the Irish jersey at any stage. So, it's a huge week for them and it's up to the rest of us now to lay down a marker and make it a special one for them.' The fact that it will be in a hostile environment merely stokes Casey's competitive fire. 'It will be class to play in a hostile environment, that is exactly where you want to be as a player. We are expecting a mental atmosphere for the Georgians. 'It is a special thing to represent your country and every chance you get to do that ... is a huge privilege.'
