Madigan, McFadden and Jones named in Wolfhounds team

Ireland Wolfhounds head coach Anthony Foley has included some exciting combinations to face the England Saxons that will be fighting for a place in the senior Ireland team for the Six Nations.

Thu, 23 Jan, 2014 - 13:35

Ireland Wolfhounds head coach Anthony Foley has included some exciting combinations to face the England Saxons that will be fighting for a place in the senior Ireland team for the Six Nations.

Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden and Felix Jones are some of the names that stand out in the side while the substitutes include the likes of Munster's Ian Keatley and Simon Zebo as well as Jordi Murphy and Richardt Strauss from Leinster.

Madigan pairs up with fellow Leinster player Isaac Boss at half-back, and the second row is an all-Ulster affair with Iain Henderson and Dan Tuohy.

McFadden and Jones make up the back three along with Ulster's Craig Gilroy while Robbie Henshaw is Connacht's only starter on the team at centre with Ulster's Darren Cave.

Rhys Ruddock will lead the Wolfhounds at Kingsholm on Saturday evening from the back row and will have Munster's Tommy O'Donnell and Cardiff Blues' Robin Copeland, soon to be at Munster, alongside.

The front row sees Munster, Ulster and Leinster combine in the shape of David Kilcoyne, Rob Herring and Martin Moore.

The Wolfhounds' strong bench also includes Jack McGrath, Stephen Archer, Robbie Diack and Kieran Marmion.

Saturday's encounter will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1, and kicks off at 5pm.

The Saxons won last year's meeting at the Sportsground in Galway, with George Ford kicking them to a 14-10 victory.

O2 IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS:

15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

14. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)

12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

11. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)

10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)

9. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)