Doak is ready for physical challenge

After the injury fall-out from a midweek victory over Uruguay, Neil Doak is expecting an even more intense physical challenge from Romania in tomorrow’s IRB Nations Cup decider.

Half-back Luke McGrath and second rower Mick Kearney have both been ruled out, although there was better news on Sean Dougall, JJ Hanrahan and Paddy Butler, with Dougall named in the starting line-up and the others chosen on the bench.

As head coach Dan McFarland makes nine alterations, his assistant Doak is anticipating a red hot reception from the Romanians: “They’re a really big side, they will want to keep it quite tight and make it a physical confrontation, so we have, while trying to match that, to try to manoeuvre them around the paddock.”