England A pack may have edge

IRELAND's Under-21 side have beaten their English counterparts four times in six matches. By contrast, the Ireland A team have lost their last five matches against England.

The rivalry between the two countries in these grades will be renewed this afternoon when the A teams meet at Donnybrook (2.30) and the under-21 teams play at Dr Hickey Park (3.0). The Irish Universities also meet the English Universities at College Park. So there is plenty to whet the appetite for the main event tomorrow.

Both A teams have undergone alteration since they were selected. Ireland have lost two internationals - the Shannon pair Mick Galwey and Eddie Halvey because of injury. They have also lost second-row Shane Leahy and he is replaced by Steve Jameson. England lost their selected halfbacks, Kyran Bracken and Alex King, who are also injured, as well as hooker Richard Cockerill, who has been moved into the replacements on the senior side. But despite these changes, there is plenty of experience in both sides and plenty of incentive for all the players involved.

The last occasion Ireland beat England at A level was in 1991 when they won 24-10 at Donnybrook. In the interim, there have been a few near misses and a few heavy defeats, none heavier than the 56-26 reverse inflicted in Richmond last season. England include six of the side that did that demolition job, including three of the four three-quarters, Nick Greenstock, Will Greenwood and Ade Adebayo. Ireland's only survivor is full-back Conor O'Shea.

O'Shea is, however, one of six international backs in the Ireland side today, the exception being centre Killian Keane. Four of the six, O'Shea, Dominic Crotty and the half-backs Paul Burke and Stephen McIvor, have all played for Ireland at senior level this season. But with Halvey and Galwey gone from the pack, the only internationals who remain are loose-head prop Henry Hurley and number eight Ben Cronin, who have won two and one caps respectively.

Full-back Nick Beal, Adebayo, props Richard Hardwick and John Mallett, second-row Garath Archer and open-side flanker Neil Back have all played for England at full international level.

England's recent record in the A sphere also illustrates their strength. Last season they defeated all opponents and a fortnight ago, beat Scotland 52-17. Ireland, meanwhile, after an excellent win over South Africa A in November, lost heavily to France and a fortnight ago, allowed their concentration and a 14-0 lead to slip when they lost to Wales.

While the Ireland back line looks a potent force, the pack could struggle for the kind of possession on which the backs would prosper. But the two defeats previously inflicted by England at Donnybrook at this level have been very narrow, 20-21 two years ago and 22-18 in 1993. It could be close again, with England favoured to maintain their very good record.

Thus far, this has not been a vintage season for the Ireland Under-21 team, deprived as they are of the services of wing Denis Hickie, scrum half Brian O'Meara and number eight Eric Miller, all of whom were members of last season's under-21 Triple Crown winning team and are still eligible at this level. Hickie, O'Meara and Miller are all required for duty at the top level tomorrow.

Ireland lost heavily to France at this level a month ago, and to Wales, a fortnight ago. They face a tough assignment against an England side that defeated Scotland 35-26 two weeks ago.

There is only one survivor on the Ireland team from the side that beat England 23-10 in Northampton last season - prop Barry McConnell. England also have Just one player who played in that match, their big second row Chris Murphy, who captains the side.

The Irish side has undergone radical alteration from the team that lost to Wales and that, hopefully, will bring about immense, improvement.

In the back line, Gareth Gannon returns in the centre to partner senior interprovincial Sheldon Coulter, while another senior interprovincial, Richard Governey, comes in at out-half and Anthony Horgan wins his first cap on the left wing.

In the pack, Ciaran O'Kane comes in at hooker, John Gardiner is moved from the flank to the second row and Leo Cullen, a member of the Ireland Schools' side that saw off all opposition last season, wins his first cap on the flank.

Yesterday, there was an enforced change when number eight Simon Easterby withdrew. David Wallace moves from open-side flank to number eight and David Watt moves up from the replacement bench to fill the flank forward berth.