RUGBY: The comprehensive 55-22 victory over Wales in their first outing will guarantee that Ireland will approach tonight's A international against England at Franklin's Gardens (8.0, live on Sky Sports 2) in a confident frame of mind. Coach Matt Williams will be hoping the team can emulate the victory of two years ago at the same venue.
There is just a single alteration to the side that thumped Wales. Keith Gleeson, who came on in the senior international against Wales for a try-scoring debut, reverts to the A side for whom he was originally selected a fortnight ago. His had been promoted for the Six Nations game because Eric Miller was ill.
Andy Ward makes way for Gleeson's return, while Sheldon Coulter comes into the replacements in place of the injured Anthony Horgan.
Ireland A's Welsh opponents were abject in their display the last day, and England will be nowhere near as accommodating. Although they could manage only a 6-6 draw against Scotland in their opening contest, the match was played in appalling conditions.
The English will be captained by Saracens scrumhalf Nick Walshe, and they possess a very strong, all round team. There is plenty of pace behind the scrum, manifest in the presence of London Irish flyer Paul Sackey and recent rugby league convert, Henry Paul, of whom great things are expected.
They also have the undoubted quality of England Lions full back Matt Perry, usurped by Jason Robinson on the senior side.
Perry can consider himself unfortunate in that not only does Clive Woodward favour Robinson as his first choice full back, but he prefers the brittle Iain Balshaw for bench duty in the Six Nations game at Twickenham tomorrow.
One interesting inclusion is London Irish flanker Declan Danaher: born in England of Irish parents, Danaher played for Ireland U-19s, but he claims the IRFU did not show much more interest and he has decided to pursue his English qualifications.
Conditions permitting, Ireland are likely to play an expansive game, a recognition of a strong running three-quarter line and the obvious talents of full back Paddy Wallace.
The pack boasts several seasoned internationals, including Reggie Corrigan, Jeremy Davidson, Victor Costello and Alan Quinlan. Their experience and quality will be vital in this contest.
The accepted handicaps of preparing a side in three days and getting them to perform and gel as a unit means that the onus is firmly placed on the shoulders of the players rather than the coaching team of Williams and Mark McCall.
The quality of the English challenge will be light years removed from that which Ireland faced in Cork. Under coach Ged Glynn, a former assistant at London Irish, the home side pursue an expansive approach and this should make for a free-flowing encounter.
The prospect of injuries cropping up in the Six Nations and the summer tour of New Zealand are twin attractions for the Irish players, hoping to make an impression. Tonight will provide a decent benchmark of current form.
ENGLAND A: M Perry (Bath); P Sackey (London Irish), H Paul (Gloucester), F Waters (Wasps), J Lewsey (Wasps); A Goode (Leicester), N Walshe (Saracens, capt); M Worsley (London Irish), A Titterell (Sale), R Nebbett (Leicester); A Brown (Bristol), T Palmer (Leeds); P Buxton (Newport), A Sanderson (Sale), D Danaher (London Irish). Replacements: C Fortey (Gloucester), D Flatman (Saracens), A Sheridan (Bristol), S White-Cooper (Harlequins), H Charlton (Newcastle), T May (Newcastle), P Christophers (Bristol).
IRELAND A: P Wallace (Ulster); G D'Arcy (Leinster), J Kelly (Munster), M Mullins (Munster), T Howe (Ulster); P Burke (Harlequins), N Doak (Ulster); R Corrigan (Leinster, capt), P Shields (Ulster), S Best (Ulster); L Cullen (Leinster), J Davidson (Ulster); A Quinlan (Munster), V Costello (Leinster), K Gleeson (Leinster). Replacements: G Hickie (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), B Casey (Leinster), A Ward (Ulster), B Willis (Leinster), J Holland (Munster), S Coulter (Ulster).
