Ireland team: Jack Crowley preferred to Sam Prendergast as two debutants start against Portugal
Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley and interim head coach Paul O'Connell (inset).
Ireland’s interim head coach Paul O’Connell has named Jack Crowley at fly-half as one of five changes to his starting line-up for the Test against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday.
There are two debutants amongst those changes with Connacht’s Shayne Bolton included on the left wing while Munster’s Alex Kendellen, who captained Emerging Ireland on last year’s winning tour to South Africa, starts on the openside flank.
Crowley comes into the run-on side at the expense of Sam Prendergast, who was not included in the matchday squad despite scoring 14 points in Ireland‘s 34-5 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend.
Meanwhile, Bolton takes over from experienced flyer Jacob Stockdale, who has returned home after sustaining a shoulder injury in the victory against the Lelos, while Kendellen replaces Nick Timoney in the back-row.
Cian Prendergast to start on the flank after illness
Joining Kendellen amongst the loose forwards are flankers Cian Prendergast, who was a late withdrawal from the replacements bench for Georgia Test due to illness, and Ryan Baird who retains his spot in the starting XV.
The rest of Ireland’s pack consists of Darragh Murray and Tom Ahern, who are the two locks, while hooker Gus McCarthy and will pack down in the front-row alongside the props Thomas Clarkson and Jack Boyle.
In the backline, Crowley joins Munster clubmate and Ireland skipper Craig Casey as the halfback combination while Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne continue as the starting centres.
Bolton will line up in a back three featuring Leinster duo Jimmy O’Brien, who continues at full-back, and right wing Tommy O’Brien.
Ireland send home two players including the specialist-needing Jacob Stockdale
O’Connell has opted for a traditional five-three split on his replacements bench with Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu and Max Deegan the forward reserves while Ben Murphy, Ciaran Frawley and Hugh Gavin offering backline cover with the latter also in line to make his Test debut of he takes to the field.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Test in Lisbon, O’Connell said: “I have been really pleased with the attitude of the players over the last number of weeks.
“The dedication and diligence of the squad in testing conditions over in Tbilisi demonstrated the players’ willingness to embrace challenges and hopefully that bodes well again this weekend.
“This Saturday presents another opportunity to go out and try to play our game. Portugal are another impressive emerging side who look to play an exciting brand of rugby and we know that we’re in for another battle hopefully in front of another big crowd of travelling supporters.
“To our three new debutants – Shayne, Alex and Hugh – congratulations on their selection. The team will try to deliver a positive performance for them and their families.”
Ireland team to face Portugal
Ireland:15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey (c), 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Hugh Gavin
Date: Saturday, July 12
Venue: Estadio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon
Kick-off: 19:00 BST (18:00 GMT)
Referee: : Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)