McCall to succeed Bradley as Ireland Under-21 rugby coach

FORMER Irish international Mark McCall has been appointed coach to the Ireland Under-21 rugby team.

McCall, who has been assistant coach to Ulster, replaces Michael Bradley, now coach of Connacht, as part of the IRFU indigenous coaching development programme.

McCall played his club rugby with Bangor, Dungannon and London Irish and made his senior international debut when he came on as a replacement in the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin, in May 1992.

His first full cap arrived a week later in the second Test in Wellington and he went on to win a further 11 caps ending his playing career as the midfield partner of Kevin Maggs in the second Test against South Africa.

Mark McDermott is assistant coach and David Haslett is team manager while former Shannon, Munster and Ireland A full-back Pat Murray has been reappointed Ireland U19 coach.

Elsewhere, England will protect a 10-year unbeaten record against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday but Clive Woodward last night warned his World Cup hopefuls to expect a "tough test".

Woodward has chosen to rest the entire starting line-up which accounted for Australia in Melbourne just over eight weeks ago. But he can still parade a side boasting more than 300 caps and containing four Test Lions skipper Jason Leonard, hooker Mark Regan, lock Danny Grewcock and flanker Martin Corry.

Leeds full-back Dan Scarbrough and Wasps centre Stuart Abbott will make their Test debuts, while experienced Leicester forwards Julian White and Lewis Moody are back following prolonged injury problems.

England's opening World Cup warm-up fixture, though, has obvious banana-skin potential, given that Wales coach Steve Hansen is set to field his strongest possible team.

The game will inevitably be viewed as a Wales first XV against England seconds, yet Woodward has no doubt about his players' ability to perform.

"I am delighted that Steve Hansen is picking a very good Wales team," Woodward said. "Man for man, they are a very strong side, and I fully expect that our players will have a very tough test on Saturday. I've announced a strong team with over 300 caps between them.

"Jason Leonard will be captain and I've no doubts he will do an excellent job.

"He's an example to all the squad on and off the field, and, like me, he's really looking forward to Saturday."

Woodward added: "Although the side is a completely different one from the team that played Australia in June, it contains a number of players who were either injured or suspended during the summer. It gives them and the new caps an excellent opportunity to push their claims for a place in the final 30-man World Cup squad, which I will announce on September 8."

For his part, Wales' coach Hansen believes his players will need to produce a better performance than they did against England in February to have any chance of toppling them. Although Wales suffered a 6 Nations whitewash last season, one of their better performances came when England arrived in Cardiff.

When England return this weekend there will be no Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Will Greenwood or Lawrence Dallaglio to worry Wales.

Despite Woodward's team selection, Hansen still anticipates a daunting mission.

"England have got a successful system, and a very, very strong squad operates within that," said Hansen, who will confirm his side tomorrow and is expected to make 14 changes from the young and inexperienced combination beaten 35-12 by Ireland last weekend.