Four new players have been named in the Ireland team which will take on the Barbarians at Thomond Park on Friday night.
Second rows Ed O’Donoghue and Dan Touhy, Chris Henry at No. 8 (all Ulster) and the in-form Fergus McFadden at centre, make up the quartet which will make their first senior appearances.
Gavin Duffy will partner McFadden at centre while Ronan O’Gara joins up with Peter Stringer to form the halfback duo.
Ireland XV v Barbarians, Mastercard Challenge international at Thomond Park, Friday, 7.45pm:
Robert Kearney, Shane Horgan, Gavin Duffy, Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble, Ronan O’Gara (cpt), Peter Stringer, Marcus Horan, Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, John Muldoon, Niall Ronan, Chris Henry.
Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tom Court, Mick O’Driscoll, David Wallace, Tomas O’Leary, Jonathan Sexton, Paddy Wallace.
