Wholesale Changes On Irish Team

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has retained just four of the side that started against Australia, for the game against Tonga on Saturday, with one of those, Reggie Corrigan set to lead the side. Girvan Dempsey retains the full-back position, Shane Byrne remains in the middle of the front row and try scorer from the Australian game, John Kelly also retains his place but he moves to the right wing, with his Munster colleague Mike Mullins earning a place in the centre.

Ireland (v Tonga).
Girvan Dempsey
John Kelly
Mike Mullins
Jonathan Bell
Tyrone Howe
Guy Easterby
Ronan O’Gara
Justin Fitzpatrick
Shane Byrne
Reggie Corrigan capt
Leo Cullen
Paul O’Connell
Simon Easterby
Kieron Dawson
Eric Miller.

The replacements will be named later in the week, seven from the following ten,
Paul Shields, Emmet Byrne, Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Meara, Simon Best, Mark McHugh, Marcus Horan, Anthony Horgan.