Cronin Named In Ireland Team

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt has named five Munster players his matchday squad to face Argentina on Saturday, and see’s Munster’s James Cronin included for the first time.

Having impressed in last weekend’s opening test against the Pumas, Dave Kilcoyne is promoted to a starting position in the front row with captain Paul O’Connell retaining his place in the second row.

In the backs, Simon Zebo is another Munster representative to retain his starting place, the Corkman lining out on the left wing.

Conor Murray is joined by James Cronin in the replacements, with the Munster prop hoping to win his first Irish cap on Saturday.

A product of the Munster Academy, Cronin initially impressed at club level, playing underage with Ballincollig RFC, youths rugby at Highfield RFC and senior rugby with Dolphin RFC. Also representing Munster Youths and Munster A, he received a development contract for season 2013/14 after just two years in the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy. Grasping the opportunity with both hands, the Ballincollig native went on to become a regular in the Munster team.

Having scored a try on his competitive debut for the province in September’s PRO12 clash against Edinburgh, Cronin went on to make his Heineken Cup debut against the same side in October at Murrayfield.

Such was the impressiveness of his form, December saw him awarded a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the province until at least June 2016.

Closing out the season out with 26 appearances for the Munster, seven of which were in the Heineken Cup, Cronin did enough to place himself on the radar of Joe Schmidt and became one of four uncapped players named in the summer tour to Argentina.

Ireland v Argentina, Saturday June 14^th, Estadio José Fierro, Tucumán. KO 19:40 Irish time with coverage on Sky Sports 2.

IRELAND Team v Argentina

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 54
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 56
13. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 27
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 6
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 7
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 44
9. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 54

1. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 9
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 76
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 40
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 16
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 93 capt
6. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 2
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 15
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 66

Replacements

16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster) *
18. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 9
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 11
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 3
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 28
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 9
23. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster) *