EMERGING IRELAND COACH Allen Clarke has made 10 changes to from the side that eased to victory over Italy in the opening Tbilisi Cup fixture.
Ireland meet Uruguay tomorrow (KO 2pm) with only captain Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Griffin, Stephen Archer, Matt Healy and Billy Holland retained from Saturday’s starting line-up.
Munster’s Rory Scannell is handed the number 10 jersey, and he will have Noel Reid at 12 to help shoulder playmaking responsibilities.
JJ Hanrahan and Luke McGrath are the only backs named on the bench, allowing plenty of opportunity for the back three of Peter Nelson, Cian Kelleher and Matt Healy to clock up valuable minutes.
Up front, Dave Heffernan is named hooker with Munster’s James Cronin and Stephen Archer the starting props.
In the back row, Ulster’s Frankie Taggart is named at openside with Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson in his more natural position of number eight after an impressive season at number seven for his province.
In a week of heavy flooding in which at least 13 people were killed, head coach Clarke offered both condolences and thanks to his hosts before speaking of the game at hand.
“First and foremost our thoughts are with the citizens of Tbilisi,” said Clarke.
We have luckily been unaffected by the adverse weather conditions and we are thankful to the Georgian Rugby Union for their hospitality and consideration during what is undoubtedly a very difficult and upsetting time.”
“This game offers a further opportunity for those within the squad to show that they can compete at this level. Although there were some positives from opening fixture, there were also a number of areas that we know we will need to improve to keep progressing in this tournament.”
Emerging Ireland (v Uruguay, 17 June 2pm)
15. Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)
14. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Eoin Griffin (London Irish)
12. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
11. Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)
10. Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
9. John Cooney (Terenure College/Connacht)
1. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
2. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3. Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4. Andrew Browne (Galwegians/Connacht)
5. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt)
7. Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
8. Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17. Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)
18. Andrew Warwick (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
20. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
23. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
