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The Skipper’s view

Ireland Wolves' captain Neil Rock speaks on the eve of the Nepal series

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KATHMANDU, Nepal – Ireland Wolves captain Neil Rock is looking forward to getting underway against Nepal Men tomorrow – and seeing what his teammates can achieve on the tour.

Speaking at the main ground in advance of the Nepal series, Rock said:

Yeah, it’s great to arrive in Nepal and we’ve been looked after very well. It’s very exciting to be the first Test nation to tour here and we’re very much looking forward to it as a group.
We had our first skills session yesterday as a group and everyone seems in good order ready to go for the first game on Monday. It’ll be a great test to play against Nepal’s senior side in their home conditions and conditions that are very alien to us. We’ll obviously do some analysis on their players but will be very much about adapting as quickly as possible to conditions and how they approach it in the day.

Asked about the local crowds:

Yeah, I believe we should get some big crowds in which is great and hugely exciting. It certainly adds to the spectacle and gives us a good opportunity to play in front of bigger crowds. Hopefully both sides can put on a good show and entertain.

How much preparation have you and head coach Ryan Eagleson had:

I’ve obviously been with Eagy in Dubai for the last few weeks, but we had a job to do there first before focusing our attentions on Nepal. I’ve been lucky enough to play under Eagy – and a season alongside him – I’d like to say we get on very well and have a good understanding of how we want to go about things as a group.

And do you know your XI for tomorrow?

We’ve named the 11 for the first game, but as we know in sport things can change and everyone will be prepared to play. It’ll be great for everyone to get opportunities over the next eight games and massively beneficial to expose different guys to different roles again in conditions that are so different to back home.

TOUR DETAILS

The Ireland Wolves squad is:

Neil Rock (c) (Instonians), Ross Adair (CIYMS), Cade Carmichael (Instonians), Gareth Delany (Leinster), Stephen Doheny (Merrion), Matthew Foster (CSNI), Fionn Hand (Clontarf), Gavin Hoey (Pembroke), Matthew Humphreys (Lisburn), Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy (Railway Union), James McCollum (Waringstown), PJ Moor (Clontarf), Morgan Topping (Waringstown), Ben White (Phoenix).

The coaching staff will be: