Ireland to target the breakdown

Dominance in the breakdown will be key to Ireland's chances in the second Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday, according to captain Brian O'Driscoll.

Confidence is high in the Ireland camp after the narrow 34-23 defeat to their hosts in Hamilton last weekend, but the Leinster centre is aware of an All Blacks backlash and reckons the referee Jonathan Kaplan will also play an important role.

The South African is an experienced officiator and one both sides will know well.  That familiarity will be crucial to both sides.

"Dominance of the breakdown is very important," said O'Driscoll today. "But it can vary from game to game, depending on who the referee is and what his take on the tackle situation is.

"You play to your knowledge of the referee. It might be different this weekend with a different referee. You might find both sides playing him differently."

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is still hoping full-back Geordan Murphy will be fit.

Murphy has an Achilles tendon strain following last Saturday's 34-23 defeat by the All Blacks in Hamilton.

Meanwhile, Ireland A coach Michael Bradley, has made six changes to the Ireland his team ahead of the game against England Saxons in the Barclays Churchill Cup Plate Final on Saturday.

In the scrum Shane Jennings replaces the suspended Roger Wilson on the blindside and Neil McMillan will play openside.

Tomas O'Leary starts at scrumhalf in place of Chris Keane, while the concussed Robert Kearney will be replaced by Conor Philips on the wing.

A dislocated thumb means Kieran Lewis will miss the game at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada. He will be replaced in the centre by John Hearty.

Andrew Maxwell will start on the wing.

"We'd consider England to be the second strongest team in the tournament after the New Zealanders so the players are very much up for this game," said Joey Miles, Ireland A Team Manager.

"Despite the injuries that we've suffered with Kearney and Lewis, the squad is still strong and very enthusiastic about the prospect of taking on the English on Saturday".

Ireland A

1 Ray Hogan   Galwegians / Connacht
2 John Fogarty  Buccaneers / Connacht
3Tom Court   Ballymena / Ulster
4 Trevor Hogan  Shannon / Munster
5 Matt McCullough  Ballymena / Ulster
6 Shane Jennings (Capt.)Leicester
7 Neil McMillen  Ballymena / Ulster
8 Jamie Heaslip  Clontarf / Leinster
9 Tomas O'Leary  Dolphin / Munster
10 Paddy Wallace  Ballymena / Ulster
11 Conor McPhilips St. Mary's / Connacht
12 David Quinlan  Northampton
13 John Hearty  Galwegians / Connacht
14 Andrew Maxwell  Ballymena / Ulster
15 Bryn Cunningham Dungannon / Ulster

Replacements:
16 Brian Blaney  Terenure College / Leinster
17 Ronan McCormack UCD / Leinster
18 Damien Brown  Northampton
19 John Muldoon  Galwegians / Connacht
20 Chris Keane  Buccaneers / Connacht
21 Eoghan Hickey  UCD / Leinster
22 Mossie Lawlor  Shannon / Munster