Bradley aiming to purge Perth memory

POSSIBLY the lowest moment in Ireland A history came at McDiarmuid Park, Perth, last season when their Scottish counterparts scored 10 tries in a 67-7 demolition of the visitors.

That shock result a year ago came at a time when Ireland’s senior squad was also experiencing a difficult Six Nations campaign, although the A side then wasn’t viewed as a second string.

Then Ireland head coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, said at the time he wanted to pick a young side (more a third string) than an Ireland shadow side.

However, on paper at least, the Irish appear better-equipped this season to deal with the Scottish challenge tonight at the RDS (7.30pm).

The Ireland A squad is coached by Michael Bradley and Niall O’Donovan, both of whom will be glad to see their side get game-time following the farcical cancellation of last weekend’s A international against England Saxons at Donnybrook.

There are two changes to the squad that was due to play the Saxons with Munster’s Donnacha Ryan replacing Neil Best at blindside flanker and Ulster’s Ed O’Donoghue called onto the replacements bench.

Isaac Boss returns from illness to take his place amongst the replacements instead of Chris Keane.

Best has opted to play for Northampton Saints against Saracens in the Guinness Premiership tomorrow.

Having being handed an 18-week ban for eye-gouging last October, the former Ulster back row feels he owes it to his club having being absent for such a long period of time.

Scotland A coach Andy Robinson has picked 11 home-based players.

Amongst their starting XV is young Glasgow Warriors outhalf, Ruaridh Jackson who has impressed this season for the Scottish district in both Magners League and Heineken Cup while centre Ben Cairns is chosen to captain the team in a back line containing three full internationals.

“We are keen to pick up where we left off,” said Robinson who is assisted by Sean Lineen and Shane Munro.

“We achieved some good results with a positive brand of expansive rugby last season and the plan is for the players to replicate those performances against Ireland A and Italy A.

“Ireland A have a strong squad with real quality; Eoin Reddan, Shane Jennings, and Andrew Trimble are all players with Test experience.”

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); D Ryan (Munster), S Jennings (Leinster), J Muldoon (Connacht).

Replacements: J Fogarty (Leinster), J Andress (Exeter), E O’Donoghue (Ulster), S O’Brien (Leinster), I Boss (Ulster), I Humphreys (Ulster), B Murphy (Munster).

SCOTLAND A: S Jones (Newcastle); J Thompson (Edinburgh), B Cairns (do), R Dewey (Ulster), S Lamont (Northampton); R Jackson (Glasgow), M McMillan (do); E Kalman (Glasgow), F Thompson (do), D Young (Gloucester); C Hamilton Edinburgh), D Turner (Glasgow); S Newlands (Edinburgh), A McDonald (do), J Beattie (Glasgow).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), S Corsar (Rotherham), S McLeod (Edinburgh), S Swindall (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), G Ross (Saracens), A Turnbull (Edinburgh).