A week later they will bring international rugby back to Christchurch at the redeveloped Rugby League Park before a final game pencilled in for the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton June 23rd.

Ireland will also play a match against the Barbarians in the week prior to departing for New Zealand – the date and venue for that game have yet to be confirmed.

IRELAND 39 BARBARIANS 14, Kingsholm, Gloucester (Att: 10,800)

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Tommy Bowe, Shane Horgan 2, Jamie Heaslip 2; Cons: Paddy Wallace 4; Pens: Paddy Wallace 2

Barbarians: Tries: Craig Newby, Pedrie Wannenburg; Cons: Peter Hewat 2

Not perfect, in fact far from it – but very, very encouraging for a non-cap game. A number of newcomers wanted to show their worth and thats exactly what they did – making the Barbarians look disorganised at times. The biggest plus point is to come away with no injuries (last time they played I reland lost the game 31-30 and Brian O’Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey, Geordan Murphy and Jeremy Davidson to injury).

O’Driscoll was a late withdrawal due to a bereavement and Duffy took his place in the squad, with Shane Horgan taking over the Captaincy.

Shane Jennings kept the ball in on the wing, before Paddy Wallace spun out a pass for Tommy Bowe whilst Duffy made the decoy – leaving the Barbarians wide-open – Bowe stepped past Sosene Anesi and got the try.

Wallace converted and added a quick penalty to make it 10-0.

The Baa Baas’ ball carriers often looked without support, but Stephen Larkham and Michael Classens looked lively, with a solid scrum and Lesley Vainikolo looking dangerous we expected more, but all we got was Ireland adding to their lead!!

Mike Ross’ senior debut ended early with an injury in the 18th-minute, with Tom Court, another uncapped player, replacing him.

Stephen Ferris, blocked a clearance kick from Larkham, Jamie Heaslip scooped it up and Luke Fitzgerald set off on a run.

Quick lineout ball saw the Baa Baas napping and the ball switched to the left, Jennings straigtened the line, Fitgzerald (involved again and looking completely at home in an international) tied up a defender offloading to Horgan, Horgan powered past Morgan Turinui and Craig Newby to go over the line. Wallace added the left conversion to take things to 17-0.

A brief threat through Vainikolo saw Heaslip ground the big England winger, with Ireland regrouping helped by Bob Casey. Still attacking, Rob Kearney grabbed the intercept out of the a ruck and Bowe was soon well over the halfway line. Anesi hauled him down, good hands and cool heads from Kearney, Rory Best and Wallace saw Horgan grab his second.
24-0 down, the Barbarians started to get some possession at the half-hour mark. The crowd roared as Leinster favourite Ollie Le Roux, burst forward with his South African colleague Jaco Pretorius.

Despite the upturn in performance Ireland could and should have got a couple more tries before half time. As it was Larkham’s saving kick downfield and the resulting messy lineout saw New Zealander Newby go over for the Barbarians first try and injure himself in the process – stretchered off as the half ended 24-7.

Isaac Boss earned himself ten minutes in the sin-bin early in the second half, after he deliberately got in the way of a pass from his opposite Claasens, yet Ireland dug deep down to ten men and started to add points to their existing lead.

Wallace opened the scoring kicking a penalty, before Young began to offload the Barbarians bench – a move that backfired…

O’Kelly the giant Leinster lock sprang through a gap and took play from the Irish 22 over the halfway, linking up with Fitzgerald as the ball move switly out left. Rory Best put Kearney into space and Heaslip dived over the line.

Wallace’s conversion made it 34-7 as Ireland threw on their replacements Ryan Caldwell, Neil Best, Girvan Dempsey and Bernard Jackman.

Best and Cobus Visagie’s altercation caused tempers (and Visagie’s right eye!) to flare, and after a bit of handbags they stepped inside Duffy and South African Pedrie Wannenburg dotted down to the right of the posts.

Hewat converted and the Baa Baa’s were on the attack again, but Kearney who had made his mark nailed Turinui with a fine tackle.

Tired legs and bodies opened the game as Dempsey at full-back set of an excellent run, and Heaslip was stopped just short of the line. However he wasn’t finished yet.- before further shake ups for Ireland as Jonathan Sexton came on at out-half with Wallace moving into the centre and Frank Murphy also got a short run-out at scrum half.

The final try came as Jackman pounced on a loose ball and set Court charging down the wing with Murphy in support, a linkup with Heaslip sealed the deal (although the conversion robbed Wallace of is 100% record).

All in all a pleasing performance for Bradley’s Munster-less side!

TIME LINE: 5 minutes – Ireland try: Tommy Bowe – 5-0; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 7-0; 10 mins – Ireland penalty: Paddy Wallace – 10-0; 21 mins – Ireland try: Shane Horgan – 15-0; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 17-0; 25 mins – Ireland try: Shane Horgan – 22-0; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 24-0; 40+2 mins – Barbarians try: Craig Newby – 24-5; conversion: Peter Newby – 24-7; Half-time – Ireland 24 Barbarians 7; 46 mins – Ireland sin-binning: Isaac Boss (deliberate offside); 54 mins – Ireland penalty: Paddy Wallace – 27-7; 58 mins – Ireland try: Jamie Heaslip – 32-7; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 34-7; 69 mins – Barbarians try: Pedrie Wannenburg – 34-12; conversion: Peter Hewat – 34-14; 80+1 mins – Ireland try: Jamie Heaslip – 39-14; conversion: missed by Paddy Wallace – 39-14; Full-time – Ireland 39 Barbarians 14

IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) (capt), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht), Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster); Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster), Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Bob Casey (London Irish), Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster).

Replacements used: Tom Court (Ballymena/Ulster) for Ross (18 mins), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster) for O’Kelly, Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) for Ferris (both 60), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) for Fitzgerald (63), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster) for R Best (67), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) for Horgan (79), Frank Murphy (Leicester) for Boss (80).

BARBARIANS: Peter Hewat (London Irish); Sosene Anesi (Chiefs & New Zealand), Morgan Turinui (Reds & Australia) (capt), Jaco Pretorius (Stormers & South Africa), Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester & England); Stephen Larkham (Australia), Michael Claassens (Bath & South Africa); Ollie Le Roux (Leinster & South Africa), Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), Cobus Visagie (Saracens & South Africa), Kris Chesney (Saracens), Ross Skeate (Stormers), Craig Newby (Highlanders & New Zealand), David Croft (Reds & Australia), Pedrie Wannenburg (Blue Bulls & South Africa).

Replacements used: Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies) for Newby (half-time), Glen Jackson (Saracens) for Larkham (45 mins), Mark Regan (Bristol & England) for Bruno, Patrice Collazo (Gloucester & France) for Le Roux (both 55), Santiago Dellape (Biarritz & Italy) for Chesney (56), Le Roux for Visagie (67), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins & England) for Claassens (68), Tyrone Smith (Brumbies) for Hewat (79).

Referee: Andrew Small (England)

It’s a non-cap match, but this make the game no less serious for Michael Bradley’s squad with all but three destined to be on that plane next month. The need for game time is paramount with Leinster and Ulster players not having played since the end of season on May 9th – the Munster squad were in action on Saturday and hence won’t feature tonight.

O’Driscoll is clearly looking forward to the game:

“This game offers a chance for certain individuals to show their worth playing for Ireland, playing in a senior jersey for the first time.

“For others it’s a chance to impress and get game-time under your belt going into what are going to be two really tough internationals.

“We’ll be looking for a good, solid performance – the basics done well and good ball retention. There’s no onus on us to play their style.

“We’ll adopt whatever style we need. I’ve said to the players there are no wrong decisions, just make sure you back up your decision,”

Mike Ross and Bob Casey probably have the biggest point to prove with Casey (who will captain Ireland ‘A’ in next months Churchill cup) not having tasted senior games since 2000, and Harlequins prop Ross making his first senior appearance.

The bench should be itching to show themeselves tonigh with the four uncapped players (Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, Frank Murphy and Jonathan Sexton) all keen to impress and stake a claim in one of the squads.

After that horrid World Cup and a tight Six Nations the back line is the key tonight, all seven of those starting will be on the plane to Wellington on Just 1st and must be ready to face the All Blacks. Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe could stake their claim to be in those jerseys with a good performance tonight (although ask Girvan Dempsey, Ian Dowling, Gavin Duffy and Geordan Murphy about that and you might hear a different opinion).

There’s excitement for a new pairing at centre with Brian O’Driscoll pairing up with Luke Fitzgerald for the first time, having only played on the wing or off the bench now Fitzgerald will have to impress tonight to cover the injury laden centre stage.

Bradley was last involved with the Ireland squad as assistant coach to Niall O’Donovan for the 2005 summer tour in Japan:

“It will be an interesting game. The traditions of the Barbarians is to keep the ball in play and attack at every opportunity from every position in the pitch.

“If you look at Super 14 and the way that has gone in the last couple of weeks, that’s the type of rugby being played over there so they’ll give us an opportunity to contend with that type of an attack coming at us for a consistent period in a match.”

Ireland have played the Barbarians on two previous occasions – they lost the Peace International 70-38 at Lansdowne Road in 1996 and, four years later, they were pipped 31-30.

Bob Casey makes a return to the second row to play alongside the experienced Malcolm O’Kelly. Harlequins prop Mike Ross will make his senior Ireland debut (although this is a non capped match) in the front row with Rory Best and Bryan Young.

First Choice No. 8 throughout the Six Nations, Jamie Heaslip is joined by his Leinster Colleague Shane Jennings and Ulster’s Stephen Ferris in a new back row combination.

Brian O’Driscoll gets a new partner in the backline, Luke Fitzgerald will join him at centre. Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace are the half backs with a back three of Shane Horgan and Tommy Bowe on the wings and Rob Kearney at full back.

Four uncapped players appear alongside some regular names in the replacements Tom Court, Ryan Caldwell, Jonathon Sexton and Frank Murphy.

Interim Coach, Michael Bradley said:

“These games are always exciting, high tempo matches. From that perspective it will be good preparation for us as we head into the tour where the teams have been playing a fast and loose game under the new ELV’s”.

“The Baabaa’s game will be important for the players to get up to that pace of play before we arrive in New Zealand and also for the Churchill Cup players in the match squad ahead of their tour. Overall, the array of talent that the Baba’s will have on show is of the highest calibre, so it will be good test for us , but I think we can get an awful lot out of the game ahead of the tour”.

Commenting on the new Centre partnership Bradley said,

“I suppose one of the main talking points of the selection will be the new centre partnership as there has been plenty of discussion about where Luke’s (Fitzgerald) best position is. This was the ideal opportunity to try Luke in midfield in a pressure situation against quality opposition and both he and Brian (O’Driscoll) have enough talent to make it work”.

Ireland Team (to play The Barbaians, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Tuesday May 27th K.O. 7:45)

Player/Club/Province

15 : Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 : Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

13 : Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (Captain)

12 : Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

11 : Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

10 : Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

9 : Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

1 : Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)

2 : Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

3 : Mike Ross (Harlequins)

4 : Bob Casey (London Irish)

5 : Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

6 : Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 : Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

8 : Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements

16 : Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)

17 : Tom Court (Ballymena/Ulster)

18 : Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)

19 : Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

20 : Frank Murphy (Leicester)

21 : Jonathon Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

22 : Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

The squad includes Munster prop Federico Pucciariello, and former Leinster prop Ollie le Roux. Recently departed second row from Ulster, Justin Harrison gets an invite too.

There are a large overseas party including Australian fly-half Stephen Larkham, and fellow Australians Morgan Turinui and David Croft. London Irish provide a further Ozzie in the form of Peter Hewat and Samoan centre Seilala Mapusua.

The New Zealand flag will be flown by the Newcastle-bound Otago captain Craig Newby, and fly-half Glen Jackson.

The squad, coached by Cardiff Blue David Young, will tackle Belgium in Brussels on Saturday before the Ireland game on the 27th.

Barbarians squad:

Backs

I Balshaw (Gloucester),
P Hewat (London Irish),
T Delport (Worcester),
L Vainikolo (Gloucester),
G Thomas (Cardiff Blues),
M Turinui (Queensland Reds),
J Pretorius (Stormers),
S Mapusua (London Irish),
T Smith (ACT Brumbies),
S Larkham (unattached),
G Jackson (Saracens),
A Gomarsall (Harlequins),
M Claassens (Bath),
R Powell (Worcester).

Forwards

F Pucciarello (Munster),
C Visagie (Saracens),
O le Roux (Leinster),
P Collazo (Gloucester),
D Crompton (Bristol),
M Regan (Bristol),
S Bruno (Sale Sharks),
J Harrison (Ulster),
K Chesney (Saracens),
D Grewcock (Bath),
R Skeate (Stormers),
P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls),
M Molitika (Cardiff Blues),
D Croft (Queensland Reds),
M Chapman (ACT Brumbies),
C Newby (Otago Highlanders).