Little Bit Of Confidence In This Scots Clan.

Michael Bradley’s Ireland Under 21 side take on Scotland this evening in Newbury (5pm) with the Scots quietly confident of overturning that 13-5 defeat in Dundee earlier in the season. And in this win or bust game for both sides, Scotland coach, Bob Easson expressed that confidence when he said. “One of the features of our squad is that we have continued to improve with every game through the Six Nations and again on Friday against Wales. The final scoreline (37-19) hardly did us justice because there were opportunities to score tries. Playing at that intensity, a decision has to be made – you stand or fall by that decision, and sometimes it’s not the right one. Make a wrong decision, and it’s punished.” And Scotland might rightly claim that three of the four tries that Wales scored last Friday could be placed in that category.

When Ireland and Scotland met in the championship in Dundee in February the Irish won 13-5. They led 6-0 at the break that day, thanks to two penalties from out-half, David McAllister – on the bench this evening – and although the Scots struck late to score a try, the Irish responded superbly to score a try of their own deep in injury-time, through Richard Lane – also on the bench tonight – to seal a deserved victory.

Ireland make two changes from the side that started last Friday against South Africa, with coach Michael Bradley intent on using his squad to maximum effect. Peter O’Brien (UCC) takes over from Tommy Bowe at full-back, with Lansdowne’s Niall Ronan in ahead of John Muldoon at wing forward.

Ireland.
15. Peter O’Brien – UCC
14. Keith Matthews – UL Bohemians
13. Barry Murphy – UL Bohemians
12. Glen Telford – Instonians
11. John Hearty – Blackrock College
10. Michael Rainey – Glasgow Hawks
9. Fiach O’Loughlin – Shannon
8. Ciaran Potts – St. Mary’s
7. Niall Ronan – Lansdowne
6. Stephen Keogh – UCC capt
5. Neil McComb – Dundee Highschool
4. David Gannon – UCD
3. Declan Fitzpatrick – Belfast Harlequins
2. Rory Best – Belfast Harlequins
1. Jason Moran – UCD
Replacements.
16. Kevin Corrigan – UCD
17. Eugene Mc Govern – Old Crescent
18. Simon Crawford – UCD
19. John Muldoon – Galwegians
20. Conor O’Loughlin- Buccaneers
21. David McAllister – Terenure College
22. Richard Lane – UCC.

Scotland.

Gareth Morton (The Borders); Nikki Walker (The Borders), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Hawks), Philip Godman (Newcastle Falcons), Andrew Turnbull (Watsonians); Alistair Warnock (Boroughmuir and Scottish Institute of Sport), Mark McMillan (Stirling County and Scottish Institute of Sport); John Malakoty (Glasgow Hawks), James Henry (Leicester Tigers), Alasdair Dickinson (Dundee HSFP and Scottish Institute of Sport), Alasdair Stroksoch (Boroughmuir and Scottish Institute of Sport), Mark Rennie (Newcastle Falcons), Steve Swindall (Glasgow Hawks), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Institute of Sport) captain, Kelly Brown (Melrose and Scottish Institute of Sport).
Replacements.
Fergus Thomson (West of Scotland and Scottish Institute of Sport), Gavin Mories (Glasgow Hawks), Stuart Male (Glasgow Hawks), Tom MacCormick (Harlequins), Brendan McKerchar (Durham University), Tom Philip (Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Institute of Sport), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Hawks).