Madigan named at outhalf to face unbeaten England

Under-20 International/England v Ireland:IRELAND COACH Eric Elwood's preference for Ian Madigan at outhalf explains the only alteration to the side that was beaten by Wales last time out. The Blackrock College player came on as a replacement in Athlone and has been handed the starting role as Trinity's Martin Dufficy drops to the bench.

On the basis of their performance against Wales, this Irish side face a very tough evening against an England team hoping to claim a Grand Slam, thereby emulating tonight's visitors, who managed it last season.

Ireland's performances in the campaign to date have been at best patchy and it would take a quantum leap in quality for them to really contend.

There's nothing wrong with their attitude but England will be bigger, stronger and faster and it will take tremendous Irish resilience to make this match a genuine contest.

The Old Belvedere centre Eoin O'Malley is a player of real potential and has stood out in previous matches but he's likely to have to showcase his ability in defence for much of this match.

England, coached by Nigel Redman and Mark Mapletoft, have already beaten Wales (28-15), Italy (22-13), France (24-6) and Scotland (41-15), while Ireland have lost to the Welsh and French.

England make a couple of changes, with Adam Greendale called in at outhalf to replace Rob Miller and Graham Kitchener (Worcester) replacing the suspended Saracens lock Ben Thomas.

ENGLAND: N Cato (Saracens); S Stegmann (Harlequins), L Eves (Bristol Rugby), A Goode (Saracens), M Odejobi (Wasps); A Greendale (Leeds Carnegie), J Simpson (Wasps); N Catt (Bath), M Gray (Northampton), A Corbisiero (London Irish); G Kitchener (Worcester), S Hobson (Cornish Pirates); J Fisher (London Irish), M Cox (Worcester), H Ellis (Wasps). Replacements: S Freer (Leeds Carnegie), B Moss (Bath), J Cannon (Northampton), A Saull (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester), G King (Worcester), D Norton (Gloucester).

IRELAND: D Kearney (Leinster); S Scanlon (Munster), E O'Malley (Leinster), C Cleary (Leinster), C Cochrane (Ulster); I Madigan (Leinster), D Moore (Leinster); P Karayiannis (Ulster), J Harris-Wright (Leinster), B Barclay (Leinster); D Nolan (Connacht), E Sheriff (Leinster); K Essex (Munster), P Ryan (capt) (Leinster), P Mallon (Leinster). Replacements: S Douglas (Ulster), S Archer (Munster), I Nagle (Munster), T Connelly (Connacht), I Porter (Ulster), M Dufficy (Leinster), E Sheridan (Leinster).