What TV channel is Georgia vs Ireland on? Kick-off time, FREE stream, team news and odds for summer series opener
The Munster legend is standing in for the series in place of
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2
Paul O'Connell's Ireland face Georgia on Saturday
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
2
Craig Casey captains the team
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Here's everything you need to know about the match.
When is it on and what time is kick-off?
Georgia vs
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
.
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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.
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Ireland:
Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Stuart McCloskey,
Replacements:
Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, Cian Prendergast, Ben Murphy,
Craig Casey shares hilarious 'fear' weighing on him before captaining Ireland for first time vs Georgia
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.
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What has been said in the build-up?
summer
series and
Interim boss
out in the absence of injured captain
Since
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
Wales
in the
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With other seasoned internationals such as
Peter
O'Mahony and
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.
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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."
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