Bradley reshuffles backs

Ireland A coach Michael Bradley has made three changes for Saturday’s clash with Scotland A in the plate final of the Barclays Churchill Cup.

The back division has been reshuffled with Leicester’s Johnny Murphy switching to full-back in place of Ross McCarron, who has returned home with an injured thumb.

Munster’s Keith Earls reverts to the left wing with Northampton’s Seamus Mallon returning to the starting XV alongside Darren Cave in the centre.

Up front, Leinster loose-head John Lyne replaces the injured Ray Hogan while John Muldoon replaces Johnny O’Sullivan at blindside flanker.

Ireland A were beaten 50-22 by the New Zealand Maori on Tuesday night and meet the Scots in the third-place play-off.

Ireland A team to play Scotland in the plate final of the Barclays Churchill Cup: J Murphy (Leicester); P McKenzie (Ulster), D Cave (Ulster), S Mallon (Northampton), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), F Murphy (Leicester); J Lyne (Leinster), J Fogarty (Connacht, capt), M Ross (Harlequins), R Caldwell (Ulster), A Farley (Connacht), J Muldoon (Connacht), J O’Connor (Wasps), R Wilson (Ulster).

Replacements: S Cronin (Munster), D Fitzpatrick (Ulster), D Toner (Leinster), J O’Sullivan (Munster), C Keane (Connacht), I Keatley (Leinster), F McFadden (Leinster).