Emerging Ireland name selection for Nations Cup showdown with Romania
The Emerging Ireland coaching team have named a strong selection for their final game of the IRB Nations Cup against host country Romania this coming Sunday.
There are four personnel changes and a number of positional changes in the backline as well as a host of changes to the pack as Emerging Ireland seek to maintain their unbeaten status and claim the Nations Cup title.
Paul Marshall comes in for the injured Luke McGrath at scrum-half and Ian Keatley replaces his Munster rival JJ Hanrahan at fly-half. Stuart McCloskey replaces Brendan Macken in the centre and Eoin Griffin switches from inside-centre to outside-centre. Andrew Conway replaces Michael Allen on the left wing with Craig Gilroy switching from full-back to right-wing and Johne Murphy doing the reverse.
In the front-row John Ryan is retained at loose-head and James Tracy comes in for Bryan Byrne with Michael Bent replacing Ricky Lutton. Dave Foley joins Billy Holland in the second row after Mick Kearney was ruled out through injury.
Captain Dominic Ryan returns to the match day squad after being ruled out of the game against Uruguay due to illness and is joined in the back-row by Sean Dougall and Robin Copeland.
The game against Romania will determine the winner of the 2014 IRB Nations Cup with both sides having recorded two victories to date.
EMERGING IRELAND team to play Romania
IRB Nations Cup – Sunday 22nd June,
Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
17:00hrs local/ 15:00hrs Irish time
15. Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)
14. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
13. Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Dungannon/Ulster)
11. Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
1. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
2. James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
3. Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5. Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)
6. Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) capt
7. Sean Dougall (Dolphin/ Munster)
8. Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)
Replacements:
16. Brian Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster)
17. Ricky Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18. Paddy Bulter (Shannon/Munster)
19. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20. Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
22. Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Emerging Ireland Kick-off Clarification v Romania
For Immediate Release
Dear All,
Please be advised that Emerging Ireland’s final game of the Nations Cup against Romania will kick off at 19:00 local time and 17:00 Irish time. The game is not currently available via a live stream.
Many thanks
David
