Four changes for Irish U21

The Ireland Under 21 team to play the Italy Under 21 side in Thomond Park on Friday next (Kick off 7.30pm) shows four changes from the side that lost to England 27-19.

Paul McKenzie comes into the team on the left wing to replace the injured Tommy Bowe.

Flanker Brendan O’ Connor returns from injury to regain his place at the expense of Kevin McLaughlin.

Robbie Shaw is promoted from the bench to the starting scrum half position with Tomas O’ Leary moving to the replacements panel.

Glen Telford is injured and is replaced by Breffne O’ Donnell at inside centre with Greg Stafford coming into the replacements.

The Ireland U21 team to play Italy at Thomond Park on Friday 19th March 2004 at 7.30pm is as follows:

15. Andrew Finn (Dolphin)

14. Richard Lane (UCC)

13. John Hearty (Blackrock College)

12. Breffne O’Donnell (UL Bohemians)

11. Paul Mc Kenzie (Loughborough University),

10. Gareth Steenson (QUB)

9. Robbie Shaw (London Wasps)

1. John Wickham (Clontarf)

2. Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution)

3. Keith Doyle (UCD)

4. David Gannon (Blackrock College) – CAPTAIN

5. Shane O’Connor (Cork Constitution)

6. Brendan O’ Connor (Cork Constitution)

7. Oisin Hennessy (Dungannon)

8. Jamie Heaslip (DU)

Replacements: 16 - Conor Geoghegan (UCD), 17 - Stephen Bennett (Bath) 18 - Neil McComb (Dundee HSFP), 19 - David O’Brien (Old Belvedere), 20 - Tomas O’ Leary (Cork Constitution), 21 - Michael Glancy (Loughborough University), 22 – Greg Stafford (Lansdowne)