Captain Casey wants 'special week' for Ireland debutants

Ireland captain Craig Casey says the squad are keen to "make it a special week" for the debutants who will face Georgia on Saturday.

Scrum-half Casey, 26, is the Irish skipper for this summer's Tests against Georgia and Portugal with 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty.

Interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell has handed debuts to Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien and Connacht second row Darragh Murray for the match at the Mikheil Meshki Stadium (18:00 BST).

Props Michael Milne and Jack Aungier, along with Munster's Tom Ahern and Connacht scrum-half Ben Murphy, are also in line to make their senior international bows off the bench.

"It's unbelievable for them to earn their first caps and it's a huge opportunity for all of us. It's a massive privilege for us to put on the Irish jersey at any stage," said Casey in a pre-match media interview provided by the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU].

"It's up to us to lay down a marker and make it a special week for them."

The Munster number nine added that it was "a special honour" to be skippering the team given the pedigree of the previous incumbents in the role.

"The players that I'm following, it's class to be in that kind of recognition with those type of players," he said.

"I'm delighted with it. It'll be a special day for my family and everyone who has put a lot of work into me."

Casey is anticipating a formidable physical challenge from Georgia, who are ranked 11th in the world.

"We're expecting them to be up the walls with physicality and bring their game to us. They've got a back row who are going to contest every breakdown.

"I think if we're on our breakdown we'll have a good day, we'll have to do a lot of work there.

"Obviously their forwards set the platform for them but they have a high-quality back-line. They have some really big threats.

"Their number 15, Davit Niniashvili, is a high-class player. He has shown it in the Top 14 and he's shown it in Europe. I imagine their fans are going to make it a special occasion for them, they'll be delighted to have Ireland over and try and knock us off."