Andy Farrell is changing tack from the World Cup preparations of the last two Ireland coaches. Their final match before the big tournament will be in the host country.
Last month, the IRFU confirmed dates and opponents for Ireland's two home World Cup warm-up fixtures.
The Grand Slam champions will first welcome Italy to Dublin, on Saturday, August 5. Ireland defeated Kieran Crowley's men in Rome during the 2023 Six Nations but needed a late Mack Hansen try to seal the result. Two weeks later, August 19, Steve Borthwick's England side will come to Lansdowne Road to pit their wits against the reigning World No.1s.
There had been speculation about a third warm-up game taking place in France, closer to the World Cup itself. That has now been confirmed by World Rugby.
[caption id="attachment_207037" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Ireland and Samoa faced each other in the 2019 World Cup, in Japan. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]
Ireland to face Samoa
Ahead of the 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cups, Ireland - under Declan Kidney then Joe Schmidt - played four warm-up games. Andy Farrell has settled for three.
On Saturday, August 26th at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, in Bayonne, Farrell's men will take on Samoa. Their most recent squad contained Michael Ala'alatoa (Leinster), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Ulster) Chris Vui of Bristol Bears and UJ Seuteni, who is set to play for La Rochelle in this weekend's Champions Cup final.
While no firm date has been locked in for the announcement of Ireland's 33-man World Cup squad, it is likely that we will know the lucky men before that game against Samoa, in France.
Two weeks after that game, Ireland open their 2023 World Cup campaign against Romania, in Bordeaux.
Ireland World Cup warm-ups
Ireland v Italy - Saturday, 5 August at Aviva Stadium
Ireland v England - Saturday, 19 August at Aviva Stadium
Ireland v Samoa - Saturday, 26 August at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger (Bayonne)
Tickets for both World Cup warm-up fixtures are now on sale.
[caption id="attachment_771708" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Johnny Sexton, the Ireland captain, holds the Six Nations trophy as Ireland celebrate their Grand Slam victory. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)[/caption]
FULL LIST OF WORLD CUP WARM-UP GAMES
Japan XV v All Blacks XV - Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, 8 July, 2023 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)Japan v All Blacks XV - EGAO Kenko Stadium, Kumamoto
Saturday, 15 July, 2023 Referee: Tual Trainini (FFR)Japan v Samoa - Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Saturday, 22 July, 2023 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)Fiji v Tonga - Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 22 July, 2023 Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)Samoa v Fiji - Apia Park, Apia
Saturday, 29 July, 2023 Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)Japan v Tonga - Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka
Saturday, 29 July, 2023 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)Scotland v Italy - BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, 29 July, 2023 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)Uruguay v Chile - Estadio Charrua, Montevideo
Saturday, 29 July, 2023 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)Namibia v Argentina XV - Estadio Charrua, Montevideo
Saturday, 29 July, 2023 Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)New Zealand v Australia - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)Argentina v South Africa - Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)Japan v Fiji - Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)Scotland v France - BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)Ireland v Italy - Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)Wales v England - Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Nic Berry (RA)Chile v Argentina XVSaturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)Uruguay v Namibia - Estadio Charrua, Montevideo
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)Romania v USA - Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Saturday, 5 August, 2023 Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)England v Wales - Twickenham Stadium, London
Saturday, 12 August, 2023 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)Chile v Namibia - Estadio Germán Becker, Temuco
Saturday, 12 August, 2023 Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)Georgia v RomaniaSaturday, 12 August, 2023 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)Portugal v USA - Algarve
Saturday, 12 August, 2023 Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)Wales v South Africa - Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)France v Fiji - Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Saturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)Italy v RomaniaSaturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)Ireland v England - Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)Georgia v USASaturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)Uruguay v Argentina XV - Estadio Charrua, Montevideo
Saturday, 19 August, 2023 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)South Africa v New Zealand - Twickenham Stadium, London
Friday, 25 August, 2023 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)Spain v Argentina - Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, Madrid
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)Italy v Japan - TBC
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)England v Fiji - Twickenham Stadium, London
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)Scotland v Georgia - BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)Ireland v Samoa - Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)Chile v Argentina XV - Santiago, Chile
Saturday, 26 August, 2023 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)France v Australia - Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Sunday, 27 August, 2023 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Ireland and Samoa faced each other in the 2019 World Cup, in Japan. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]
Johnny Sexton, the Ireland captain, holds the Six Nations trophy as Ireland celebrate their Grand Slam victory. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)[/caption]
