Ciaran Clark And Richard Dunne To Face Off Against James Collins As Ireland Plays Wales

The Republic of Ireland hosts Wales in the Carling Nations Cup on Tuesday, and while most people really don't care about the four-nation tournament, Aston Villa fans can boast (?) of having four players included in the Cup. Barry Bannan will be in the Scotland squad as they take on Northern Ireland on Wednesday, but Tuesday's match is more interesting: James Collins will captain Wales as they play Richard Dunne, Ciaran Clark and the rest of Ireland.

I'd find this even more amusing if Richard Dunne was captaining Ireland, since Robbie Keane won't be available, but despite plenty of research (ie, one google search while sipping wine) I couldn't find Ireland's replacement captain. Collins got the nod because Craig Bellamy has declared himself too unreliable to be the Welsh captain. Gareth Bale, the Welsh Messi-ah, is, of course, out with injury, as are a plethora of players for both sides.

Congratulations to Ciaran Clark on his first international cap. English-born but of Irish heritage, he was encouraged by Richard Dunne to give Ireland a try. Apparently England has an abundance of quality center backs. Now if you'll excuse me, I just snorted wine everywhere, and need to go clean up the mess.