Saxons play Wolfhounds
It is the first salvo of the 2012 Six Nations when the second teams of England , the Saxons, and Ireland, the Wolfhounds, meet at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday. Both teams are a mixture of youth and experience.
The Wolfhounds’ three-quarters are all uncapped players. England have a 21-year-old flyhalf and a teenage scrumhalf. But the Wolfhounds have 13 in their squad who have played for Ireland, the Saxons five who have played for England.
Loose forward James Gaskell, who is just 21, will captain the Saxons, loose forward Chris Henry, who is 27, the Wolfhounds who have two experienced scrumhalves in New Zealander Isaac Boss and Tomas O’Leary. The Saxons have great experience in Delon Armitage, big Matt Banahan and speedy Ugo Monye.
Jon Callard, the Saxons’ coach, said: “It is a new era for us. There’s a lot of youth and energy in this squad and we’ll go into the game with a ‘no fear’ attitude
“We want to see the players express themselves and at the same time develop the streak of pragmatism you need to win big games. We’ve seen in Europe the strength of Irish at the moment but the challenge motivates and excites us.”
In turn, Ireland Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood commented: “The games against the Saxons are always highly competitive affairs as you would expect and results have tended to go with the home side, but I think we have a good mix in our side and the key message is that we have to match them on all fronts, especially in the physical stakes, to come away with a win.
“I would expect a really good atmosphere for the game and I know the players are looking forward to it.”
The teams:
England Saxons: 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 13 Matt Hopper (Harlequins), 12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), 11 Matt Banahan (Bath), 10 Freddie Burns (Gloucester), 9 Ben Spencer (Saracens), 8 Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), 7 Andy Saull (Saracens), 6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks – captain), 5 George Robson (Harlequins), 4 Matt Garvey (London Irish), 3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), 2 Joe Gray (Harlequins), 1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors).
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker (Harlequins), 17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester), 18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), 19 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), 22 Jonny May (Gloucester).
Ireland Wolfhounds: 15 Gavin Duffy (Galwegians & Connacht), 14 David Kearney (Lansdowne & Leinster), 13 Eoin O’Malley (Old Belvedere & Leinster), 12 Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch & Ulster), 11 Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution & Munster), 10 Ian Keatley (Young Munster & Munster), 9 Isaac Boss (Terenure College & Leinster), 8 Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College & Leinster), 7 Chris Henry (Ballymena & Ulster – captain), 6 John Muldoon (Galwegians & Connacht), 5 Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers & Connacht), 4 Dan Tuohy (Ballymena & Ulster), 3 Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution & Munster), 2 Damien Varley (Garryowen & Munster), 1 Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians & Connacht).
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry (Garryowen & Munster), 17 Ronan Loughney (Galwegians & Connacht), 18 Devin Toner (Lansdowne & Leinster), 19 Kevin McLaughlin (St Mary’s College & Leinster), 20 Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin & Munster), 21 Ian Madigan (Blackrock College & Leinster), 22 Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution & Munster).
Date: Saturday, January 28
Kick-off: 17.00
Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
