Zebo handed chance to run with the Wolfhounds

Munster hat-trick hero Simon Zebo has been given a chance to stake a senior international claim after being selected for the Ireland Wolfhounds in the A international against England Saxons in Exeter tomorrow (5pm).

The Irish selectors yesterday named nine capped players in the starting side, including Ulster flanker Chris Henry, who captains the side, Leinster scrum-half Isaac Boss and Munster hooker Damien Varley, the latter two having been part of the Ireland’s World Cup squad.

With Declan Kidney naming a 30-man senior squad on Monday afternoon ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales the following Sunday, there is plenty of incentive for the Wolfhounds to perform well at Sandy Park.

Connacht’s John Muldoon and Mike McCarthy bring further experience to the pack but there is a more youthful edge to the back division, where 21-year-old Zebo, man of the match for Munster in the 51-36 Heineken Cup win over Northampton last Saturday, takes his place on the left wing.

Leinster’s David Kearney fills the other wing position and inside them are promising centres Eoin O’Malley and Nevin Spence. Gavin Duffy at full-back and Boss at scrum-half are the veterans of the back line with fellow senior cap Ian Keatley at fly-half in a side coached by Eric Elwood.

“Eoin [O’Malley] and Nevin have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon [Zebo] and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces,” Elwood said.

England, meanwhile, will field an experienced Saxons side including five senior internationals, yet with an average age of just 24 years and four months and captained for the first time by 21-year-old Sale Sharks back row James Gaskell.

Delon Armitage, Matt Banahan, Ugo Monye, Matt Mullan and Paul Doran-Jones are the players with full caps already under their belts.

IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS: G Duffy (Connacht); D Kearney (Leinster), E O’Malley (Leinster), N Spence (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster); I Keatley (Munster), I Boss (Leinster); B Wilkinson (Connacht), D Varley (Munster), S Archer (Munster); D Tuohy (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht); J Muldoon (Connacht), C Henry (Ulster, captain), R Ruddock (Leinster).

Replacements: M Sherry (Munster), R Loughney (Connacht), D Toner (Leinster), K McLaughlin (Leinster), T O’Leary (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), D Hurley (Munster).

ENGLAND SAXONS: D Armitage (London Irish); U Monye (Harlequins), M Hopper (Harlequins), B Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), M Banahan (Bath); F Burns (Gloucester), B Spencer (Saracens); M Mullan (Worcester Warriors), J Gray (Harlequins), P Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints); M Garvey (London Irish), G Robson (Harlequins); J Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain), A Saull (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester Tigers).

Replacements: C Brooker (Harlequins), R Harden (Gloucester), K Myall (Sale Sharks), T Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Northampton Saints), J May (Gloucester).