Bradley makes six changes on Ireland A side to face Saxons

IRELAND A coach Michael Bradley has made six changes to the Ireland A team to take on England Saxons in the Churchill Cup Plate final tomorrow at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.

Shane Jennings switches to the blind side in the back row to replace Roger Wilson who is serving a three-game suspension (effective immediately) following an incident at the ruck during the New Zealand Maori game last Saturday.

Neil McMillan comes in at open side in the back row. Tomás O’Leary starts at scrum-half in place of Chris Keane, Conor Philips comes in on the wing to replace the injured Robert Kearney (concussion).

John Hearty replaces the injured Kieran Lewis (dislocated thumb) in the centre and he will be partnered by Andrew Maxwell.

Ireland manager Joey Miles said: “We’d consider England to be the second strongest team in the tournament after the New Zealanders, so the players are very much up for this game. Despite the injuries that we’ve suffered with Kearney and Lewis, the squad is still strong and very enthusiastic about the prospect of taking on the English on Saturday.” Due to the injuries the selection of replacements has been delayed.

IRELAND A (v England Saxons): B. Cunningham (Ulster), A. Maxwell (Ulster), J. Hearty (Connacht), D. Quinlan (Northampton), C. McPhilips (Connacht), P. Wallace (Ulster), T. O’Leary (Munster); R. Hogan (Connacht), J. Fogarty (Connacht), T. Court (Ulster), T. Hogan (Munster), M. McCullough (Ulster), S. Jennings, capt, (Leicester), N. McMillen (Ulster), J. Heaslip (Leinster).

Replacements: B. Blaney (Leinster), R. McCormack (Leinster), D. Brown (Northampton), J. Muldoon (Connacht), C. Keane (Connacht), E. Hickey (Leinster), M. Lawlor (Munster).