Ireland A Debut For Robinson

The elevation of John Kelly and Rob Henderson to the Ireland senior squad means an international A debut for Connacht wing Ted Robinson who is named on the left wing. It is fitting compensation for the Maynooth Co Kildare man who was named in the A squad for the game against Scotland but was then forced to withdraw because of a hamstring injury.

Besides the enforced changes in the backline there is one change up front with Jeremy Davidson coming into the second row, to partner Donncha O’Callaghan, in place of Mick O’Driscoll who drops to the bench.

Ireland A. (v Italy A in Rovigo,Friday, February 21st)
Jeremy Staunton (Munster/Garrryowen); James Topping (Ulster/Ballymena), Gordon Darcy (Leinster/Lansdowne), David Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock College), Ted Robinson (Connacht/ Buccaneers); Barry Everitt (London Irish),
Neil Doak capt(Ulster/Belfast Harlequins); Justin Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon), Paul Shields (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins), Simon Best (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins); Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution), Jeremy Davidson (Ulster/Dungannon); Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Kieron Dawson (London Irish), Eric Miller (Leinster/Terenure College).
Replacements: 16 – James Blaney (Munster/Shannon), 17 – Peter Bracken (Connacht/Galwegians), 18 – Mick O’Driscoll (Munster/Cork Constitution), 19 – Aidan McCullen (Leinster/Lansdowne), 20 – Brian O’Meara (Leinster/ Cork
Constitution), 21 – Mossy Lawlor (Munster/Shannon), 22 – Bryn Cunningham (Ulster/Dungannon).