CANADA v IRELAND A: Venue:Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado Kick-off:11.30pm Irish time On TV:Sky Sports 1
ANOTHER VASTLY different Irish team will face Canada for the third time since November in Colorado tonight. Canada have stayed relatively loyal to the personnel that lost last month’s horrible excuse for a Test match, 25-6.
If Ulster outhalf Niall O’Connor can get to grips with this level then Ireland should have enough to make it three wins from three meetings. If not, Jonny Sexton is in reserve. There are several players eager for recognition after successful seasons, namely Leicester winger Johne Murphy and Leinster centre Fergus McFadden. Up front, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan and Seán O’Brien are the next wave of forwards expected to make an impact. The same might be said about Devon Toner and Seán Cronin after tonight, while Neil Best is seeking to shine after suspension saw him fall off the international radar. Cian Healy is another real option off the bench.
IRELAND A:D Hurley (Munster); F Carr (Connacht), F McFadden (Leinster), K Matthews (Connacht), J Murphy (Leicester); N O'Connor (Ulster), I Boss (Ulster, capt); B Young (Ulster), S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster); D Ryan (Munster), D Toner (Leinster); N Best (Northampton), S O'Brien (Leinster), C Henry (Ulster). Replacements: D Fogarty (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), T Hogan (Leinster), J Muldoon (Connacht), F Murphy (Connacht), J Sexton (Leinster), J Downey (Northampton).
CANADA:M Evans; J Mensah-Coker, C Hearn, D van der Merwe, J Pritchard; A Monro, P Mack; D Pletch, P Riordan (capt), A Tiedemann; T Hotson, M Burak; N Dala, A Kleeberger, A Carpenter. Replacements: M Pletch, F Walsh, D Wooldridge, J Sinclair, J Moonlight, E Fairhurst, S Duke.
Referee:Matt Goddard (Australia).