After all the bad news with injuries for the summer tour can Ireland put in a performance this evening that could brighten the mood a little? Looking at the teams:
Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), F McFadden (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), R O’Gara (Munster) cpt, P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster), E O’Donoghue (Ulster), D Tuohy (Ulster), J Muldoon (Connacht), N Ronan (Munster), C Henry (Ulster).
Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), T Court (Ulster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), T O’Leary (Munster), J Sexton (Leinster), P Wallace (Ulster).
Barbarians: P Warwick, D Smith, C Lualala, S Rabeni, C Heymans, B James, P Mignoni, D Barnes, S Brits, C Johnston, J Thion, M O’Kelly, A Quinlan, G Smith, X Rush.
Replacements: B August, J White, R So’oialo, M Williams, B Kelleher, J-B Elissalde, F Estebanez or P Sackey
The old axis of Stringer and O’Gara could well ensure we see nothing of the potent talent further out. That said, if the Barbarians start anything like they did against England last week the opportunities might be too blatant to avoid.
Still, with a glass thats always half full, McFadden scoring first and an Ireland winning margain of 6-10 points is well worth a quid at 90/1, or more likely get evens on Shane Horgan rumbling over at any point. bet365 for the odds.