Sport

Ireland need to get quickly out of the blocks

IRELAND A v ENGLAND SAXONS: IRELAND 'A' will be looking for something better than the slow start they had against the USA in…

JOHN WATTERSON
Sat Jun 14 2008 - 01:00

IRELAND A v ENGLAND SAXONS:IRELAND 'A' will be looking for something better than the slow start they had against the USA in their Churchill Cup game at Fletcher's Fields, Ontario, today.

Coach Allen Clarke knows anything other than meeting the England Saxons head on will have Ireland struggling for the win. While his side came back to beat USA 46-9, England will not allow such first-half latitude from Ireland to go unpunished.

England ran in 64 points against the Americans to 10 in reply, which means Ireland need to win today to secure a place in the final. Anything else and they play off for the Bowl against the second-placed side in the other group, the Argentine Pumas.

After their win against USA the Irish team took several knocks and, because of that, management were reluctant to select a first XV until after the captain's run, which took place last night.

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English coach Steve Bates has drafted five players into the starting England side, with hooker George Chuter set to be captain. Three changes are in the forwards and two in a back line that ran in eight tries against the USA in Ottawa.

"They fit very well with my philosophy of how the game should be dominated by pace and skill rather than brute force," said Bates somewhat refreshingly.

Meanwhile, in Wales, the Ireland Under-20 team has been named by coach Eric Elwood for their final pool match in the Junior World Championship, against Tonga.

There are three changes to the Irish back line. David Kearney, younger brother of the senior international Rob, makes his first appearance on the right wing, while Chris Cochrane returns to the left wing and Ian Madigan makes way for Martin Dufficy at outhalf.

In the second row and back row, Eoin Sherriff and Paul Ryan come in for James Sandford and Michael Entwistle respectively.

The openside flanker Ryan will once again captain the side.

The match kicks off in Cardiff this afternoon at 3pm.

IRELAND (Under-20 v Tonga):N Morris; D Kearney, E O'Malley. C Cleary, C Cochrane; M Duffy, I Porter; P Karayiannis, J Harris-Wright, B Barclay; I Nagle, E Sherriff; K Essex, P Ryan (capt), P Mallon. Replacements: S Douglas, S Archer, J Sandford, M Entwistle, D Moore, I Madigan, E Sheridan.