Representative match PreviewThe result is largely irrelevant in the greater scheme of contests, pride notwithstanding. Of greater import is individual performance for those who covet graduating to Ireland's senior squad and potential Six Nations Championship involvement.
To accomplish this, though, Ireland A will need to play well as a team for individuals to shine. Shane Horgan will captain his country from the inside centre, partnering Luke Fitzgerald in midfield as positionally both take a trip down memory lane.
Tommy Bowe is the form wing in Ireland while on the other flank Johnny Murphy gets to experience the away dressing room at Welford Road for the first time. Andrew Dunne links with Isaac Boss at halfback and with fullback Gavin Duffy it is a back line long on talent.
Eddie O'Sullivan has elected to switch Ulster's Bryan Young across the front row to tighthead prop when it might have been more prudent to opt for Harlequins Mike Ross, who is earning excellent reviews for his work at scrum time and in discharging the more mundane front row duties. Cian Healy's potential is obvious but this is an appreciable step up in class.
Ryan Caldwell is another of whom great things are expected while for Shane Jennings and Alan Quinlan the pitch represents the most eloquent forum for advancing their credentials.
A spine of nine full internationals will give the visitors an edge in terms of test experience but England can call upon five of their own in fullback Nick Abendanon, wing Tom Varndell, centres Ollie Smith and Shane Geraghty and second row Tom Palmer.
Injuries to James Simpson Daniel and Magnus Lund precluded their involvement but the Saxons still represent an amalgam of power and pace.
They will be led by Leicester Tiger Jordan Crane, who has previously captained England at under-19 and under-21 grades.
Saxons coach Steve Bates anticipates a decent test. "Having seen the strength and experience of the Ireland side, we are fully prepared for a very tough, but very exciting, match. Their players have 150 caps between them, and with the likes of Shane Horgan and Alan Quinlan they have some very experienced international players."
While it is a much changed Saxons squad, they are the reigning Churchill Cup holders having beaten the New Zealand Maoris in last year's final.
Ireland coach Michael Bradley will hopefully encourage an expansive approach that will test the skills base of both individual and team and in the process ascertain those who are ready for a higher calling.
Bob Casey is free to play for London Irish in the European Cup quarter-final against Perpignan in April. Casey was cited for stamping in the recent game with Treviso, but the independent Disciplinary Committee yesterday decided the offence did not warrant a red card and did not impose a suspension.
ENGLAND SAXONS: N Abendanon (Bath); T Varndell (Leicester), O Smith (Leicester), S Geraghty (London Irish), D Armitage (London Irish); R Lamb (Gloucester), L Dickson (Newcastle Falcons); N Wood (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), J Hobson (Bristol); T Palmer (London Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), P Dowson (Newcastle Falcons), B Woods (Newcastle Falcons), J Crane (Leicester, capt). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Newcastle), G Skivington (Wasps), W Skinner (Harlequins), J Grindal (Newcastle), A Allen (Gloucester), M Brown (Harlequins).
IRELAND A: G Duffy (Connacht), J Murphy (Leicester), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster, capt), T Bowe (Ulster); A Dunne (Connacht), I Boss (Ulster); C Healy (Leinster), F Sheahan (Munster), B Young (Ulster), T Hogan (Leinster), R Caldwell (Ulster); S Keogh (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster). Replacements: A Flavin (Connacht), D Fitzpatrick (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), D Pollock (Ulster), C Keane (Leinster), N O'Connor (Ulster), D Riordan (Connacht).
Referee: P Allan (Scotland)
England Saxons v Ireland A
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 7.45
On TV: Sky Sports 2
