'A' INTERNATIONAL IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS v ENGLAND SAXONS: Ireland Wolfhounds v England Saxons:THE IRELAND Wolfhounds, or at least those retained, have an opportunity to exorcise the disappointment of last week's second-half performance against Scotland A in Belfast tonight.
There are half a dozen alterations to the Irish team as national coach Declan Kidney looks to the base of potential Test grade players.
In this respect former age-grade internationals fullback David Kearney and tighthead prop Declan Fitzpatrick are given opportunities while Kidney has rerouted senior Test players like Isaac Boss, Donnacha Ryan and Mick O’Driscoll to the shadow national side.
Connacht’s Eric Elwood once again prepares the side.
One interesting match-up will see Eoin O’Malley try to contain the 19-year-old Manu Tuilagi, younger brother of Alesana (wing, Leicester Tigers) and Henry (number eight, Perpignan).
Manu has spent most of his life in England and therefore won’t follow the family tradition of playing for Samoa. He excelled in England’s thumping 45-17 victory over Italy A last weekend, not only scoring a try but proving a real physical handful for the Italians.
O’Malley and Ulster’s Nevin Spence will certainly relish the duel with Tuilagi and his Tigers’ team-mate Billy Twelvetrees.
The Saxons team shows three changes from last week with senior squad players, fullback Nick Abendanon, scrumhalf Joe Simpson and former Leinster academy player Paul Doran-Jones promoted after a week training in Portugal with the senior squad.
Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster pointed out: “We go into the game with confidence but also wary of what Ireland will bring. Ireland is a significantly different challenge (to Italy) and there are plenty of areas in which we need to improve.
“We’re away from home and Ireland will be on the rebound from their defeat against Scotland A as well as looking to avenge their defeat at The Rec against us last year. So it’s about stepping up our intensity and focus this week.”
Isaac Boss starts at scrumhalf while the other change to the Wolfhounds backline sees an in-form Kearney given his chance. Fionn Carr makes it to the bench but those who recall the corresponding fixture in Bath last season would like to see him given an opportunity. He excelled that day in terms of line breaks.
Mike McCarthy’s form for Connacht this season has been rightly rewarded and it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the role of blindside flanker at this level. The home side will need to step up the performance from last week or court a similarly disappointing evening.
IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS:D Kearney (Leinster); J Murphy (Munster), E O'Malley (Leinster), N Spence (Ulster), D Hurley (Munster); I Humphreys (Ulster), I Boss (Leinster); B Wilkinson (Connacht), D Varley (Munster), D Fitzpatrick (Ulster); D Ryan (Munster), M O'Driscoll (Munster); M McCarthy (Connacht), W Faloon (Ulster), C Henry (Capt, Ulster). Replacements: N Brady (Ulster), J Hagan (Connacht), I Nagle (Munster), D Ryan (Leinster), P Marshall (Ulster), I Keatley (Connacht), F Carr (Connacht).
ENGLAND SAXONS:N Abendanon (Bath); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), B Twelvetrees (Leicester), U Monye (Harlequins); S Myler (Northampton), J Simpson (Wasps); A Corbisiero (London Irish), L Mears (Bath), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester); G Kitchener (Worcester), C Day (Northampton); J Gaskell (Sale), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), L Narraway (Gloucester). Replacements: J Buckland (London Irish), J Marler (Harlequins), G Robson (Harlequins), A Saull (Saracens), P Hodgson (London Irish), B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins).
