Horgan dropped as Trimble makes debut
15/11/2005 - 13:45:18
Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has made one change to his side for Saturday’s clash with Australia with Andrew Trimble making his Test debut at outside centre.
Trimble has been in impressive form for Ulster this season and O’Sullivan has decided to give the powerful 21-year-old his chance alongside Leinster’s Gordon D’Arcy.
O’Sullivan said: “Andrew is ready for international rugby. He’s an outstanding player and his form has been exceptional.
“I thought New Zealand was not the best game to give him his first Test start but I had to use him this autumn and this is the best time.
“Defensively he’s strong. He’s very gutsy, quick and a good ball carrier who likes to take players on and run at them.”
Anthony Horgan pays the price for Trimble’s elevation to the Test team with the Munster winger dropping out of the squad after a nervy display against New Zealand.
Lions back Shane Horgan is moved out to the right wing while Ulster’s Tommy Bowe is switched to the left wing.
Llanelli flanker Simon Easterby will lead the team for the second time despite sustaining a perforated lip against the All Blacks.
Peter Stringer has also won his fitness battle. The Munster scrum-half left Lansdowne Road on crutches on Saturday but his bruised heel has responded well to treatment.
O’Sullivan added: “Simon is fine. He’s on track provided he doesn’t get another bang on the area. Peter had a badly bruised heel but we don’t see any problem with him.”
Australia were beaten 26-16 by England last Saturday and are desperate to avoid their eighth straight Test defeat – the worst sequence of results in their history.
Ireland team to face Australia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (1430):
G Murphy (Leicester); S Horgan (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), T Bowe (Ulster); R O’Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), S Byrne (Saracens), J Hayes (Munster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli, captain), J O’Connor (Wasps), D Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), M McCullough (Ulster), N Best (Ulster), K Campbell (Ulster), D Humphreys (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster).
15/11/2005, 1:33 PM
tiktok
Christ, I thought it was Shane Horgan dropped first.
Goes to show the impression Anthony had made.
Good call on Trimble, surprised there's only one change though
15/11/2005, 2:18 PM
pete
Really shows how poor the irish squad is now. Plastic Paddy hunt time?
Anthony Horgan was shocking choice last week as zero pace for international winger. Hayes time is also up. O'Kelly is clearly not fit enough.
15/11/2005, 2:34 PM
finlma
Horgan had to go - to see him chased down by a lock was embarassing.
I think Hayes and Stringer should have made way for Best and Campbell too but like Pete says it shows how poor the squad is. Worst I've seen for a long long time.
16/11/2005, 7:07 AM
CollegeTillIDie
Well done !
Nice to see the Trimble clan having something to celebrate since losing the Ulster Unionist Party leadership;)
16/11/2005, 11:30 AM
Drumcondra Red
Horgan was terrible last week, but then what of the handling errors by Murphy... Maybe Demsey should be called in at full back again? Put Murphy on the wing and get rid of Bowe, cos he was crap too!!!
