Rugby: Eoin O'Malley and Nevin Spence, two of Ireland's most promising centres, have been given the chance to impress against England Saxons in Exeter on Saturday (5pm). The youngsters are among nine players uncapped at senior level included in Eric Elwood's Wolfhounds squad.
Wings David Kearney and Simon Zebo are also named in a back three marshalled by experience Connacht captain Gavin Duffy at fullback.
“Eoin (O’Malley) and Nevin have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon (Zebo) and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces,” said Elwood today.
The coach has selected Isaac Boss to partner Ian Keatley in the half backs, while there’s a “touch more experience” in the pack, though props Brett Wilkinson and Stephen Archer will be eager to make the most of their chance in the frontrow alongside Damien Varley.
Mike McCarthy and Dan Tuohy are the starting locks, while the backrow is comprised of John Muldoon, captain Chris Henry and leinster’s Rhys Ruddock at number eight.
“The games against the Saxons are always highly competitive affairs as you would expect and results have tended to go with the home side,” said Elwood, “but I think we have a good mix in our side and the key message is that we have to match them on all fronts, especially in the physical stakes, to come away with a win.”
Elwood hopes Touhy and McCarthy will contribute to a solid set piece and compliment a backrow that he thinks “can make a good impression” at Sandy Park.
Sale backrow James Gaskell will skipper a Saxons side that features five full internationals. The 21-year-old, who can also play at lock and featured in last year's Churchill Cup success, leads the Red Rose second string for the first time as part of a side with an average age of just 24 years and four months.
Experience is provided in the form of World Cup squad members Delon Armitage and Matt Banahan, with props Paul Doran-Jones and Matt Mullan and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye making up the quintet of players with Test caps.
There are four Saxons debutants in the starting XV as Gloucester outhalf Freddie Burns, Quins centre Matt Hopper, Saracens scrumhalf Ben Spencer and Leicester number eight Thomas Waldrom are all rewarded for their impressive club form.
Harlequins hooker Chris Brooker and Gloucester back Jonny May will also make their Saxons bows if summoned from the replacements' bench.
Explaining his choice of Gaskell as captain, Saxons coach Jon Callard said: "He's a smart player, a real calming influence and he demonstrates his authority by his actions on the pitch. He's the leader of a group of leaders and we want to promote individual responsibility. For example Paul Doran-Jones runs the scrum, George Robson the line-out, Freddie Burns and Ben Spencer will control the tempo, and Delon Armitage brings his vision and authority at full-back."
Burns, 21, and Spencer, 19, make up a youthful halfback combination, but Callard has put his faith in the pair following their excellent recent displays in the Heineken Cup.
He said: "Freddie and Ben have displayed a maturity beyond their years this season and their recent performances for their club sides show they deserve their chance. Freddie was terrific against Toulouse following a run of good games and Ben has been the conduit for lots of good things at Saracens. It is a new era for us, there's a lot of youth and energy in this squad and we'll go into the game with a 'no fear' attitude."
Ireland Wolfhounds:G Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht); D Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)*, E O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*, N Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*, S Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)*; Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), I Boss (Terenure College/Leinster); B Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)*, D Varley (Garryowen/Munster), S Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)*; D Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), M McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht); J Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht), C Henry (Ballymena/Ulster) (capt), R Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster).
Replacements:M Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*, R Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht)*, D Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), K McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), T O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster), I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*, D Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
*Denotes Uncapped at full international level
England Saxons:D Armitage (London Irish); U Monye (Harlequins), M Hopper (Harlequins), B Twelvetrees (Leicester), M Banahan (Bath); F Burns (Gloucester), B Spencer (Saracens); M Mullan (Worcester), J Gray (Harlequins), P Doran-Jones (Northampton), M Garvey (London Irish), G Robson (Harlequins), J Gaskell (Sale, captain), A Saull (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester).
Replacements:C Brooker (Harlequins), R Harden (Gloucester), K Myall (Sale), T Johnson (Exeter), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Northampton), J May (Gloucester).
