ISAAC BOSS and Gavin Duffy provide the Irish Wolfhounds with back-line experience in their opening match against England Saxons at Sandy Park, Exeter, tomorrow evening (5pm).
The two seasoned players are among a lively if callow group from around the provinces. Simon Zebo, coming straight out of a Munster hat-trick, and David Kearney are on the wings with Nevin Spence and Eoin O’Malley filling the centre positions. Munster’s Ian Keatley begins a new partnership at this level at outhalf with Leinster number nine Boss.
Nine of the match-day squad are uncapped at senior level. But the pack has a more seasoned look. Ulster openside Chris Henry captains the team with Rhys Ruddock at number eight and the most experienced player in the squad, John Muldoon, on the blindside.
Damien Varley starts at hooker with the experienced Connacht loosehead prop Brett Wilkinson packing down with Munster’s Stephen Archer. Dan Tuohy wins his third cap at this level and partners Mike McCarthy in the secondrow.
“Eoin (O’Malley) and Nevin have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon (Zebo) and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces,” said Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood.
“We have a touch more experience in our pack, which I think will be important and a good spine through it with Dan Touhy and Mike McCarthy giving us really good ability across the set-piece and in the carrying stakes to complement a backrow that I think can make a good impression.”
England have named a markedly young side. Sale Sharks’ James Gaskell will lead a Saxons team with an average age of 24 years and four months (Ireland’s is 25.6 years). The blindside flanker and debutante captain is 21 years old. Like Ireland, the Saxons have also peppered their team with a few well-know names, some of whom may feel they should be lining out next weekend in the opening Six Nations match against Scotland in Murrayfield.
Senior players Delon Armitage and Matt Banahan, who both played in last year’s World Cup, Ugo Monye, Matt Mullan and Paul Doran-Jones are all in the starting line-up. Centre Matt Hopper, who has played barely a dozen first-team games for Harlequins, half-backs 21-year-old Freddie Burns and teenager Ben Spencer, and number eight Thomas Waldrom feature for the first time. Bench players hooker Chris Brooker and wing Jonny May are also newcomers to the squad.
Clearly there are a few younger Irish players Declan Kidney wants to see performing at this level with others like Henry, who provides leadership, could be knocking on the door of the senior team. Leinster winger Kearney has had a sharp rise and hopes to push on, while Zebo, who is in for the injured Luke Fitzgerald, will want to make the most of this opportunity.
“We want to see the players express themselves and at the same time develop the streak of pragmatism you need to win big games,” said Saxons coach Jon Callard. “We’ve seen in Europe the strength of Irish rugby at the moment but the challenge motivates and excites us.”
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS: G Duffy (Connacht); D Kearney (Leinster), E O’Malley (Leinster), N Spence (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster); I Keatley (Munster), I Boss (Leinster); B Wilkinson (Connacht), D Varley (Munster) , S Archer (Munster), D Tuohy (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht), J Muldoon (Connacht), C Henry (Ulster, capt), R Ruddock (Leinster). Replacements: M Sherry (Munster) R Loughney (Connacht), D Toner (Leinster), K McLaughlin (Leinster), T O’Leary (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), D Hurley (Munster).
ENGLAND SAXONS: D Armitage (London Irish); U Monye (Harlequins), M Hopper (Harlequins), B Twelvetrees (Leicester), M Banahan (Bath); F Burns (Gloucester), B Spencer (Saracens); M Mullan (Worcester), J Gray (Harlequins), P Doran-Jones (Northampton), M Garvey (London Irish), G Robson (Harlequins), J Gaskell (Sale Sharks, capt), A Saull (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester). Replacements: C Brooker (Harlequins), R Harden (Gloucester), K Myall (Sale Sharks), T Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), P Hodgson (London Irish), R Lamb (Northampton), J May (Gloucester).
