PAUL O’CONNELL’S Ireland are in Tbilisi for their opening summer series Test against Georgia.
The Munster legend is standing in for the series in place of Andy Farrell, who is on secondment with the Lions and has taken Simon Easterby with him.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
When is it on and what time is kick-off?
Georgia vs Ireland takes place at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi this evening.
Kick-off is at 6pm Irish time.
Where can I watch it?
Fans in Ireland will be able to watch the game, as well as the follow-up Test against Portugal on terrestrial TV.
Virgin Media One will be showing both games, with today’s coverage getting underway at 5:33pm.
It will also be available to stream via the Virgin Media Player.
What are the teams?
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Sandro Todua, Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Giorgi Akhaladze, Vano Karkadze, Irakli Aptsiauri, Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze, Luka Ivanishvili, Beka Saghinadze, Tornike Jalagonia.
Replacements: Irakli Kvatadze, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Giorgi Javakhia, Ilia Spanderashvili, Mikheil Alania, Tedo Abzhandadze, Tornike Kakhoidze.
Ireland: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Darragh Murray, Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, Cian Prendergast, Ben Murphy, Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash.
What are the odds?
Georgia, who are 11the in the world rankings and above Wales, are 7/1 to beat the new look Ireland team.
As for the visitors, they are out to 1/12 to pick up the victory while the draw is at 35/1.
What has been said in the build-up?
Craig Casey has been handed the captaincy for the summer series and revealed his hilarious fear about the experience.
Interim boss Paul O’Connell has put his faith in the Munster scrum-half to lead his team out in the absence of injured captain Caelan Doris.
Since Andy Farrell selected a record number of Ireland players to tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions, O’Connell has been left with a majorly inexperienced squad for the summer Tests.
Captain Doris was unavailable with a shoulder injury and Dan Sheehan – who captained Ireland against Wales in the Six Nations when Doris was injured – was selected for the Lions.
With other seasoned internationals such as James Ryan and Jack Conan also being selected for the Lions as well as retirements from Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray, the captaincy was left to the 26-year-old.
When speaking to Virgin Media he spoke about what it means to him to be given the Ireland captaincy for the summer Test matches.]
He said: “It was brilliant. It’s probably not something you dream about when you are younger. Captaining Ireland is probably something that is way out of my league of what I thought I could do when I was younger.
“When you see the calibre of players that have never captained their country I think it is very special for me.
The former Ardscoil Rís captain was asked what will be going through his head as he leads his Ireland teammates out onto the pitch to face Georgia and his response was an unexpected one.
He answered “Firstly I hope the mascot isn’t taller than me like the (Ireland) A game.”
