Ireland have named a strong Wolfhounds side to take on England Saxons on Friday night, with Sean O’Brien returning from a long-term injury lay-off to take his place on the openside flank.
There is a first start in an Ireland jersey for back-rower Jack Conan, who has shot to prominence this term for Leinster in O’Brien’s absence. There are 11 Leinster players in total in the starting team, with another three on the bench.
Wolfhounds side to play Saxons:
15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) (capt)
14. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
6. Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17. Michael Bent (Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Galwegians/Connacht)
19. Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)
20. Eoin McKeon (Corinthians/Connacht)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
9 replies on “Ireland names Wolfhounds side to play Saxons”
Strong team!! This could be a really good match
Thought the England team looked strong until I saw this. How many caps in this team? Poor weather – experience will probably be key. Expecting an Irish win.
Two strong teams should be a cracker, can’t wait
That is a really strong side! Expect Ireland to win looking at that. Experience, particularly in the pack, should see them through.
Anyone got the stats for number of caps in each starting XV or squads even?
325 caps in the starting XV. A lot for a second string, probably close the England first choice at the minute!
I imagine that will be more caps than the Eng first team will be able to put out, unless Croft and Easter are selected!
Think you’re right. I’d say quite a lot of the Wolfhounds team will be in with a shout of starting the game against Italy for the proper team rather than simply staying with this squad as the Saxons will do.
Does anyone know why some players are linked to a club, whilst other players are not? I first noticed this in the large squad announcement.
Don’t really follow Irish rugby.
Do these players ever turn out for these clubs?
Has there ever been an A game with this type of quality, significance or even expectation before? Can’t wait.