Ireland 'A' to field Test trio
Full internationals Jeremy Staunton, Johnny O’Connor and Roger Wilson have all been included in the Ireland ‘A’ side to face Canada in the Churchill Cup at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday night.
Staunton, the Wasps fly-half, was a late inclusion in the squad after dropping out of the senior tour party due to a lack of match fitness.
But he is fully recovered from a thumb injury and will start alongside O’Connor, his Adams Park club-mate.
Both players were released to play after being left out of the Wasps squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup final against Leicester at Twickenham.
Wilson, who won his only Irish cap against Japan in June 2005, helped Ireland A finish third in last year’s Churchill Cup.
Ireland ‘A’ coach Michael Bradley has named Connacht hooker John Fogarty as captain and included two Under-20 Grand Slam winners in centre Darren Cave and winger Keith Earls.
Bradley said: “We have three tough tests coming up but if we perform to the best of our ability I believe these players can gain great experience from the competition.
“Three of our starting line-up have been capped at full international level so we’ll be looking to them to be leaders. There are also some exciting young players who have the opportunity to show us what they can do.
“This tournament will play an important role in developing the players’ experience at this level.”
After tackling Canada, Ireland ‘A’ face defending champions New Zealand Maori on May 29.
Ireland ‘A’: 15 Johnny Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), 14 Paul McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 13 Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 12 Seamus Mallon (Northampton Saints), 11 Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster), 10 Jeremy Staunton (London Wasps), 9 Chris Keane (Buccaneers/Connacht), 8 Roger Wilson (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 7 Johnny O’Connor (London Wasps), 6 Stephen Keogh (Shannon/Leinster), 5 Andrew Farley (Buccaneers/Connacht), 4 Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster), 3 Michael Ross (NEC Harlequins), 2 John Fogarty (Buccaneers/Connacht), 1 Ray Hogan (Galwegians/Connacht).
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin (Shannon/Munster), 17 Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 18 David Gannon (Buccaneers/Connacht), 19 John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht), 20 Kieran Campbell (Dungannon/Ulster), 21 John Hearty (Galwegians/Connacht), 22 Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster).
