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Ireland A and Students in Line for Triple Crown

Ireland A and Students in Line for Triple Crown

01/03/02.The Ireland A side and Student sides are both, one game away from Triple Crown glory. Both sides in action this evening, As in Ravenhill (7.30) and the Students in Donnybrook (6pm).

Reggie Corrigan (pictured with his Leinster and Ireland A coach) will lead the A side against the Scots tonight in Ravenhill (7.30) with the Triple Crown firmly fixed in their sights following previouswins over Wales in Cork 55-22) and England in Northampton (25-18). The last time the side won the Triple Crown was in 2000 under Declan Kidney and Niall O’Donovan. Now Matt Williams and Steph Nel are in charge and their expansive style has seen them record impressive wins in their two championship outings to date.

While some might have wondered about the quality of the Welsh effort in Cork there was no question of merit of the victory over the English in Northampton. The pack gave a towering performance that night and their tireless effort was rewarded by tries from John Kelly and Tyrone Howe while England were reduced to relying on the boot of Andrew Goode for their scores.

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Kelly has moved up to the senior side and that means a place in the centre for his Munster colleague Jason Holland, a move that will not disrupt the tempo as Holland teams up with Mike Mullins who he partners regularly with Munster.

Scotland make two changes from the side that beat Italy last time out, backs Jon Steel and Kevin Utterson ruled out and although the Scots needed a stoppage time converted try to beat the Italians, they still represent a stiff challenge.

Coach Matt Williams will be expecting a performance from his pack similar to the one that overwhelmed England and hoping also that Paddy Wallace enjoys a little better forune under the high ball than he did last time.

In Donnybrook (6pm) the Students take on their Scottish counterparts and they too can take the Triple Crown following wins over Wales (29-12) and England (18-17).

Paddy Wallace (Ulster/Ballymena); Gordon Darcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), Mike Mullins (Munster/Young Munster), Jason Holland (Munster/Midleton), Tyrone Howe (Ulster/Dungannon); Paul Burke (Harlequins), Neil Doak (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins); Reggie Corrigan (Leinster/Lansdowne) Captain, Paul Shields (Ulster/Ballymena)
Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins); Leo Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), Bob Casey (Leinster/Blackrock College); Alan Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Victor Costello (Leinster/St. Mary’s College).

Replacements: Gavin Hickie (Leinster/St. Mary’s College), Marcus Horan (Munster/Shannon), Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution), Andy Ward (Ulster/Ballynahinch), Ben Willis (Leinster/Blackrock College), Jeremy Staunton (Munster/Garryowen), Sheldon Coulter (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins).

Ireland Students.Dermot O’Sullivan (UCD);Gary Brown (Blackrock College / DU), Kieran Lewis (St. Mary’s College / DU), David Quinlan (Blackrock College), Simon Keogh (Old Belvedere / UCD); Shane Moore Captain (UCD), Eoghan Reddan (Young Munster / UL); Ronan Mc Cormack (Buccanners / Athlone IT), Jerry Flannery (Galwegians / UCC) Peter Bracken (Galwegians / Athlone IT); Trevor Hogan (Balckrock College / DU), Tom Hayes (Shannon / Limerick IT); Aidan Mc Cullen (Lansdowne / DU), Richard Woods (Blackrock College / DU), Des Dillon (UCD). Replacements: John Fogarty (Cork Constitution / UCC); Andy O’Brien (UCD / Cambridge); Niall Breslin (UCD); Peter Malone (Garryowen / UL); Mark McHugh (St. Mary’s College / UCD); Fiachra Baynes (Lansdowne / Portobello); Seamus Mallon (Dungannon / QUB).