* Two new caps for Ireland
* O’Driscoll returns as skipper
(Adds quotes)
By Greg Stutchbury
AUCKLAND, June 7 (Reuters) – Winger Simon Zebo and tighthead
prop Declan Fitzpatrick will make their test debuts for Ireland
on Saturday after coach Declan Kidney named his side to face New
Zealand at Eden Park on Thursday.
Centre Brian O’Driscoll, who missed the Six Nations with a
trapped nerve in his neck, returns to lead the side for the
first of three test matches against the world champions.
“I missed the Six Nations so I am hugely excited about
putting a green jersey back on,” O’Driscoll said at a media
conference in the team hotel on Auckland’s North Shore.
“The last time was during the World Cup and that seems like
an eternity ago.
“(But) you’re playing the world champions, after rightly
winning the crown. It’s a huge challenge and a huge
opportunity.”
Kidney said his side would need to be at the top of their
game if they were too break a 107-year drought against the All
Blacks, but felt his young team could do it if everything
clicked.
Continued…
