Ireland: Craig Casey captains the ‘A’ side with Jacob Stockdale on the wing for clash against All Blacks XV

Craig Casey of Ireland during warm up before the 2021 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Olimpic Stadium (Stadio Olimpico) in Rome, Italy, on February 27, 2021. The match is played behind closed doors because of Covid19 pandemy. (Photo by Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto)
Ireland have selected an exciting side to take on an All Blacks XV at the RDS Arena in Dublin on Friday.
Munster scrum-half Craig Casey is given the honour of captaining the team and he is joined by Ciaran Frawley in the playmaking positions.
Elsewhere in the backline, the experienced Jacob Stockdale is an interesting inclusion. The wing last played for Ireland in July 2021 but has struggled with injury since then.
Dropping down the pecking order
James Lowe and Mack Hansen have impressed in the Ulsterman’s absence, which means the 26-year-old has to make do with a place in the ‘A’ side for now.
Stockdale partners Michael Lowry and Jimmy O’Brien in the back three while Jamie Osborne and James Hume are the centre combination.
Up front, three talented and in-form players make up the back-row as Gavin Coombes starts at number eight, with Nick Timoney and Cian Prendergast the two flankers.
Outstanding Leinster youngster Joe McCarthy starts at lock alongside Connacht’s lineout expert Gavin Thornbury, with Tom O’Toole, Dave Heffernan and Jeremy Loughman the front-row trio.
On the bench, the 48-times capped Dave Kilcoyne is the replacement loosehead while fellow prop Marty Moore is another experienced player in the 23.
Diarmuid Barron, Ross Molony, Max Deegan, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash make up the rest of the bench.
The team to face an All Blacks XV
Ireland A: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 James Hume, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Craig Casey (c), 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Gavin Thornbury, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Calvin Nash
Date: Friday, November 4
Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal (England), Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
READ MORE: Johnny Sexton striving for improved Rugby World Cup performance