Chance for second strings to shine
There is a plethora of talent on view and the competitive make-up of both sides should ensure a quality match heading into the opening Six Nations weekend.
Declan Kidney named an interesting mix in his A team, one that includes six capped players with the likes of Andrew Trimble and Eoin Reddan keen to prove a point or two.
There is no Munster player in the starting XV, while Leicester’s Johne Murphy, who has caught the eye for his try-scoring feats in the Guinness Premiership this season, is left out of the 22.
The omission of Donnacha Ryan is odd given the Tipperary man was part of Kidney’s plans during the autumn Tests. The Munster player appears to have dropped down the pecking order as sixth choice lock. However, he is also a flexible back row operator and may make an appearance tonight.
Neil Ronan’s absence is also open to debate, especially after impressing for Munster against the All Blacks and in the Heineken Cup. However, Shane Jennings starts at open side in a back row that includes Neil Best and John Muldoon.
It looks a strong Irish team but a lot depends on the amount of time coaches Michael Bradley and Niall O’Donovan have spent with the squad. They’ll be cognisant of the fact they’ll be facing a side who’ve already enjoyed a dry-run against Portugal last week – though the English will hardly have learnt a lot from that 66-0 victory.
Someone who might well swell the gate is outhalf Danny Cipriani, who was dropped from the senior squad by head coach Martin Johnson. Paul Hodgson starts at scrum half following Harry Ellis’s promotion and the Leicester man is part of an exciting England backline that includes Bath duo Matt Banahan and Nick Abendanon and impressive Harlequins centre, Jordan Turner Hall.
“Ireland will be a tough opposition,” said Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster. “We’ll be looking to build our team on and off the field and give the players a framework in which to express and enjoy themselves, yet still achieve our ultimate aim which is to win the game.”
Bob Casey, a consistently fine operator for London Irish for many seasons, captains Ireland and is partnered at second-row by Ulster’s Ryan Caldwell.
Their battle with the Saxons’ George Skivington and Jordan Crane should provide one of the game’s highlights, while Jonathan Sexton’s movements will be closely scrutinised though Ian Humphreys is likely to see game-time as well.
IRELAND A: G Duffy (Connacht); A Trimble (Ulster), D Cave (Ulster), K Matthews (Connacht), M McCrea (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), E Reddan (Wasps); C Healy (Leinster), S Cronin (Connacht), M Ross (Harlequins); B Casey (London Irish, captain), R Caldwell (Ulster); N Best (Northampton), S Jennings (Leinster), J Muldoon (Connacht).
Replacements: J Fogarty (Leinster), J Andress (Exeter), D Ryan (Munster), S O’Brien (Leinster), I Boss (Ulster), I Humphreys (Ulster), B Murphy (Munster).
SAXONS: N Abendanon (Bath Rugby); T Ojo (London Irish), D Waldouck (London Wasps), J Turner-Hall, (Harlequins), M Banahan (Bath Rugby); D Cipriani (London Wasps), P Hodgson (London Irish); M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), D Paice (London Irish), D Wilson (Newcastle Falcons); J Crane (Leicester Tigers), G Skivington (London Wasps, captain); C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins), T Guest (Harlequins).
Replacements: R Webber (London Wasps), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), S Hooper (Bath Rugby), P Dowson (Newcastle Falcons), J Simpson (London Wasps), S Myler (Northampton Saints), D Strettle (Harlequins).
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