Irish set sights on a fifth victory

Ireland attempt a fifth successive victory over England when they meet in the under-21 international at Banbury, an unprecedented run of success at any level. Ciaran Fitzgerald has taken the coaching helm, succeeding Bryan McLaughlin and will be attempting to replicate last year's success when Ireland won four of five matches.

Lansdowne full back Gordon D'Arcy's late withdrawal through injury - he is replaced by Ballina's Ger Brady, a brother of intercounty footballer David - is a blow to a backline already playing a couple of players out of position. Paddy Wallace (out-half/full back) joins Moore in the centre while Stephen Keogh (scrum-half) has been asked to play on the left wing.

Jeremy Staunton and London Irish's Campbell will be asked to shoulder much of the responsibility in their key decision making roles. England include five players with regular first team experience including Rob Thirlby, promising Bath second row Steve Borthwick and captain Alex Sanderson. In a transition year for Ireland at this level, expectation is muted.

ENGLAND U-21: S Marsden (Bristol); R Thirlby (Saracens), J Noon (Newcastle), A Higgins (Worcester), J Shaw (Sale); A Goode (Leicester), J Grindal (Leicester); M Ward (Newcastle), M Cairns (Saracens), J Dawson (Saracens); A Sheridan (Bristol), S Borthwick (Bath); A Eustace (Gloucester), A Balding (Leicester), A Sanderson (Sale).

IRELAND U-21: G Brady (Ballina); J Norton (St Mary's College), P Wallace (UCD), S Moore (UCD, capt), S Keogh (Old Belvedere); J Staunton (Garryowen), K Campbell (London Irish); N Foxe (St Mary's College), A Flavin (London Irish), N Treston (Blackrock College); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), P O'Connell (Young Munster); C McCarey (Ballymena), D Dillon (UCD), A Hughes (Dungannon).

Venue: Banbury.

Kick-off: 7.30.