Easterby shuffles squad for second Emerging Ireland Test

Emerging Ireland opened the series with a 36-24 victory over The Pumas on Wednesday.

Sat, 05 Oct, 2024 - 12:11

Examiner Sport

Emerging Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has freshened up his squad to face the Western Force in the second game of the three-match Tour of South Africa in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon (1pm local time/12pm Irish time).

Easterby's men opened the series with a 36-24 victory over The Pumas on Wednesday.

Captain Alex Kendellen is one of two players retained in the starting pack against the Australian side and the Munster man is joined in the back row by Sean Jansen and Alex Soroka.

Cormac Izuchukwu shifts to second row alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh, while hooker Gus McCarthy, starts in a new-look front row alongside Alex Usanov and Munster's Ronan Foxe who all featured as second-half replacements last time out.

In the backline, Sam Prendergast retains his place at out-half and he will partner scrum-half Ethan Coughlan.

Sean O’Brien shifts to left wing in a back three which will see first appearances for fullback Andrew Osborne and Ireland Sevens Olympian Chay Mullins who starts on the right wing, while Jude Postlethwaite forms a new midfield combination alongside Hugh Cooney.

Jack Aungier, who started in the Pumas win, will be joined by hooker Danny Sheahan and tight-head prop Scott Wilson on a bench which again includes Evan O’Connell.

Sean Edogbo provides back row cover and the Munster man is joined for the first time by Leinster half-back duo Cormac Foley and Charlie Tector, who are set for their first appearances of the Tour, and Connacht's Hugh Gavin who started last time out.

On the squad announcement, Easterby said: "The squad has really embraced the opportunity to represent their country since our arrival in South Africa and we are expecting another big step up on Sunday.

"Western Force got off to a flier on Wednesday night against the Cheetahs and it is clear that they are a well-drilled side with a lot of quality.

"The earlier kick off time presents a new challenge, but this is exactly the kind of test we want for the squad.

"We have freshened up the team this weekend, with a number of replacements from the midweek game getting their first starts, and there are other new faces coming into the panel for the first time.

"This freshness will give the squad some energy and there has been a good intensity to training, which I’m pleased about. The players are focused and excited about Sunday’s game and we’re hopeful of further signs of progression."

Ireland (v Western Force): A. Osborne; C. Mullins, H. Cooney, J. Postlethwaite, S. O’Brien; S. Prendergast, E. Coughlan; A. Usanov, G. McCarthy, R. Foxe; C. Izuchukwu, C. O’Tighearnaigh; A. Soroka, A. Kendellen, S. Jansen.

Replacements: D. Sheahan, S. Wilson, J. Aungier, E. O’Connell, S. Edogbo, C. Foley, C. Tector, H. Gavin