New caps given a chance to shine

Declan Kidney has been invited to wave a magic wand and turn the ugly duckling of Irish rugby, the A team, into a competitive, entertaining nursery for the senior side.

The job of A team coach approximates the old poisoned chalice in that one does not get to select the team and preparation is limited to a couple of days. An illustration of the vagaries of national A sides can be gleaned from the fact that only one Ireland player, Lansdowne's Shane Horgan, survives from the corresponding fixture last season: England manage five in Steve Hanley, Spencer Brown, Nick Walshe, Rob Fidler and captain Tony Diprose.

Ireland's preparations have been further hampered by a spate of injury problems. However, on a more positive note, it does allow a very inexperienced and young side to cut their international teeth. Differing criteria will determine individual success, but for Horgan, Eric Miller and Denis Hickie it offers a platform to propel them closer to the senior side. Depending on Ireland's fate in the Six Nations, Shannon props Marcus Horan and John Hayes, along with Simon Easterby and David Wallace may be plucked from the shadow team.

Ebbw Vale scrum-half Guy Easterby will be asked to nurture a young, if exciting, three-quarter line who will crave a decent supply of ball. Blackrock out-half Emmet Farrell suggested in recent performances for Leinster that he can extract good performances from those outside him. John Kelly's performance at outside centre will demand attention while up front it will be interesting to note how the scrum fares with two young and upcoming second rows, Leo Cullen and Mick O'Driscoll, in the engine room. The collective pace and footballing ability of the backrow whets the appetite for a lively encounter.

England offer seven full caps and also give a debut to Angus Gardiner, an English passport holder, who learnt his rugby in New Zealand. Ireland has a poor record against England at this level, but a positive, running rugby allied to some good individual performances is a minimum requirement.

ENGLAND A: T Stimpson (Leicester); S Hanley (Sale), F Walters (Wasps), W Greenwood (Leicester), S Brown (Bristol); A Hepher (Northampton), N Walshe (Saracens); G Rowntree (Leicester), S Walter (Northampton), J White (Saracens); C Gillies (Llanelli), R Fidler (Gloucester); P Gustard (Leicester), T Diprose (Saracens, capt), A Gardiner (Bath).

IRELAND A: D Crotty (Garryowen); D Hickie (St Mary's College), J Kelly (Cork Constitution), S Horgan (Lansdowne), T Howe (Dungannon); E Farrell (Blackrock College), G Easterby (Ebbw Vale); M Horan (Shannon), S Byrne (Blackrock College, capt), J Hayes (Shannon); L Cullen (Blackrock College), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution); S Easterby (Llanelli), E Miller (Terenure College), D Wallace (Garryowen).

Venue: Franklin's Gardens, Northampton.

Kick-off: 7.45 p.m.