Wholesale Changes On Irish Under 21 Team

The Ireland Under 21 selectors have wrung the changes on their starting XV for this evening’s game against Japan – Newbury (5pm) – making eleven changes from the side beaten by Argentina last time out. The only players to retain their places are right wing Richard Lane, his wing partner, John Hearty and two of the pack, back-rowers Niall Ronan and John Muldoon who will captain the side.

Some of those changes have come about by the withdrawal through injury of Fiach O’Loughlin (Shannon) and Peter O’Brien (UCC), but this game against Japan affords coach Michael Bradley the opportunity to use his full squad of players.

Fiach O’Loughlin’s replacement Daragh Geraghty, is named in the replacements. O’Brien is replaced by Denis Fogarty (Cork
Constitution).

Ireland U21.
15. Tommy Bowe – Queens University
14. Richard Lane – UCC
13. Barry Murphy – UL Bohemians
12. Nicholas McClelland – London Irish
11. John Hearty – Blackrock College
10. David McAllister – Terenure College
9. Conor O’Loughlin – Buccaneers
1.Eugene Mc Govern – Old Crescent
2. Kevin Corrigan – UCD
3. Jody Danagher – UL Bohemians
4. Simon Crawford – UCD
5. Shane O’Connor – Cork Constitution
6. John Muldoon – Galwegians captain.
7. Niall Ronan – Lansdowne
8. Michael Mc Comish – Ballymena.

Replacements.
16. Declan Fitzpatrick – Belfast Harlequins
17. Jason Moran – UCD
18. Neil McComb – Dundee Highschool
19. David Gannon – UCD
20. Daragh Geraghty – UCD
21. Michael Rainey – Glasgow Hawks
22. Glen Telford – Instonians.