Guinness Autumn Test Series

Autumn Tests

GUINNESS AUTUMN SERIES 2010

Ireland 21 - 23 South Africa

Ireland got their Guinness Autumn Test Series off to a rocky start with a narrow 21-23 loss against current world champions South Africa. It was a lacklustre performance by the home side however they looked like savaging something from the game when they really began to show glimpses of their potential in the final 15 minutes of the game. A late rallying comeback almost brought the game to a score draw however Ronan O'Gara's conversion attempt in the closing minutes glanced off the upright to deny the home side.

Click here to view full match report of Ireland v South Africa

The Ireland 34 man squad announced today for the 2010 Guinness Series by the Ireland management shows the return of several players who were absent from the summer tour.

Ireland will play South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina on consecutive weekends in November and the squad sees Keith Earls, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Sean O’Brien and Donnacha Ryan, who were all ruled out of the summer tour due to injuries at the end of the season, named in the panel.
Devin Toner was also injured for that tour but returns to the squad as one of two uncapped players, the other being Johne Murphy who came into the summer tour party as a late replacement.

Commenting on the upcoming Guinness Series, that will see Ireland play its first international game in the Aviva Stadium, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said,
“It will be great to be back playing in the home of Irish Rugby on Lansdowne Road in the Aviva Stadium and the atmosphere from what I have seen so far rivals the old stadium. There will be a lot of talk about the new stadium and also about the Rugby World Cup, but the responsibility for the squad and management will be firmly to concentrate on the first game and then take each week as it comes in November. We will soak up all the excitement that goes with all that, but the focus for everybody on November 6th will be performing against South Africa.”

There are several players who remain out of consideration due to ongoing rehabilitation with Paul O’Connell and Kevin McLaughlin continuing their recovery from long term injuries, with Tomas O’Leary also ruled out until mid November due to his broken thumb. Jerry Flannery and Luke Fitzgerald picked up injuries over the weekend and are remaining with their provinces to be fully assessed where a decision can be made if they are fit to join the squad and take part in training.
Marcus Horan who was named in the original squad has also been ruled out after suffering a broken wrist in the gym on 20th October which is expected to sideline the prop for 4-6 weeks

Kidney continued, “It is going to be a demanding month for the squad and the first time we have played four games in the Guinness series. We felt it was important to have at least 30 fit players to choose from in terms of setting the foundations for November and it was better for those who picked up knocks to be assessed back in the provinces and when they have the all clear, to come back into the squad. Jerry (Flannery) and Luke (Fitzgerald) are in that position, as are fellas like Tomas (O’Leary) and Leo (Cullen) who may well come back into the mix depending on their recoveries and game time that they may need to build up over the next couple of weeks.”

“We need everybody in a position to be able to contribute in training and while we may well leave a window for those coming back, all the players in the squad are deserving of their chance. There are a lot of players who are unlucky not to make this squad, but the door will remain open to them also during November to join up with the panel.”

Ireland Squad (34):

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
~~Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)~~
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)*
Donncha O' Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Ronan O' Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
*Denotes uncapped player.

Dates

The Irish Rugby Football Union have announced the dates and kick off times for the Guinness Series international games to take place this November.

The Aviva Stadium will welcome back international rugby during the Guinness Series for the first time since Ireland beat the Pacific Islands team in November 2006, which was the final international game in the old Lansdowne Road Stadium.

All of the Guinness Series games will take place in the Aviva Stadium, with current World Cup holders South Africa opening the Guinness Series on November 6th with a 5.30pm kick off. To mark the special occasion, South Africa has waived its right and unique rugby tradition where the visiting team wears its home jersey when there is a clash of colours. This will allow the Ireland team to wear its famous green jersey for the first international game in the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland will play a further three internationals during November with Samoa the next visitors to the Aviva Stadium a week later on November 13th with a 2.30pm kick off.
The New Zealand team will make their first appearance at the Aviva Stadium with another 5.30pm kick off on November 20th and the Guinness Series will finish on a Sunday with the visit of Argentina on November 28th at 2.30pm.

2010 Guinness Series Fixtures

Ireland v South Africa
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 6 November, KO 5.30pm

Ireland v Samoa
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 13 November, KO 2.30pm

Ireland v New Zealand
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 20 November, KO 5.30pm

Ireland v Argentina
Aviva Stadium
Sunday 28 November, KO 2.30pm