Corrigan to lead Ireland in Tonga match

Reggie Corrigan, winning his 22nd cap, will captain Ireland for the first time in their second Tour match, against Tonga in Nuku’alofa on Saturday next. Kick off is at 3.30am Irish time.

The team shows 11 changes from that which started the Test against Australia in Perth last Saturday, backs Girvan Dempsey and John Kelly and front row forwards, Shane Byrne and Corrigan being the only survivors.

The seven Ireland replacements will be selected later from a list of 10 players.

The Ireland team to play Tonga is:

15 Girvan Dempsey (Leinster, Terenure College)

14 John Kelly (Munster, Cork Constitution)

13 Mike Mullins (Munster, Old Crescent)

12 Jonathan Bell (Ulster, Dungannon)

11 Tyrone Howe (Ulster, Ballymena)

10 Ronan O’Gara (Munster, Cork Constitution)

9 Guy Easterby (Llanelli)

1 Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster, Dungannon)

2 Shane Byrne (Leinster, Blackrock College)

3 Reggie Corrigan (Leinster, Greystones) Captain

4 Leo Cullen (Leinster, Blackrock College)

5 Paul O’Connell (Munster, Young Munster)

6 Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

7 Kieron Dawson (London Irish)

8 Eric Miller (Leinster, Terenure College)

Replacements: From Paul Shields (Ulster, Ballymena), Emmet Byrne (Leinster, St. Mary’s College), Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster, Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster, Garryowen), Gordon Darcy (Leinster, Lansdowne), Brian O’Meara (Leinster, Cork Constitution), Simon Best (Ulster, Belfast Harlequins), Mark McHugh (Connacht - St. Mary’s College), Marcus Horan (Munster, Shannon), Anthony Horgan (Munster, Cork Constitution).