Ulster Dominate Ireland ‘A’ Team

Ulster will have eight players in the Ireland A team for this Friday’s international against France A at Donnybrook (kick-off 7.00pm) – Ireland’s first A fixture in two years.

Full-back Bryn Cunningham and Tommy Bowe – who earned his first senior start against the US Eagles last November – are included in the backs, where Ulster’s Paddy Wallace and Kieran Campbell also form the half-back partnership.

The pack boasts Ulster props Ronan McCormack and Simon Best with provincial team mates Matt McCullough and Roger Wilson.

Best along with Leinster centre David Quinlan are the only players who started in Ireland’s last A international – a 24-21 defeat of England A at the same Dublin venue in March 2003 (see below).

Back then, a lengthy 85th-minute penalty from Mark McHugh settled the issue.

Incidentally, current senior players Gordon D’Arcy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Simon Easterby and Gavin Duffy saw action at Donnybrook, two years ago.

D’Arcy’s former Leinster colleague Bob Casey – now locking for London Irish – is the only Exile included for the 2005 tie.

The need for further international competitive experience has led to the arrangement of Friday’s game, between the IRFU and the FFR (Fidiration Frangaise de Rugby).

A INTERNATIONAL: Friday, March 11
Ireland A v France A, Donnybrook, 7.00pm

IRELAND A:

(15) Bryn Cunnigham (Ulster – Dungannon)
(14) Tommy Bowe (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins)
(13) Kieran Lewis (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)
(12) David Quinlan (Leinster – Blackrock College)
(11) Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution)
(10) Paddy Wallace (Ulster – Ballymena)
(9) Kieran Campbell (Ulster – Dungannon)
(1) Ronan McCormack (Ulster – Buccaneers)
(2) Bernard Jackman – Captain(Connacht – Clontarf)
(3) Simon Best (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins)
(4) Matt McCullough (Ulster – Ballymena)
(5) Bob Casey (London Irish)
(6) Alan Quinlan (Munster – Shannon)
(7) Shane Jennings (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)
(8) Roger Wilson (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins)

Replacements:

(16) Paul Shields (Ulster – Ballymena)
(17) Ray Hogan (Connacht – Galwegians)
(18) Ben Gissing (Leinster – Clontarf)
(19) David Wallace (Munster – Garryowen)
(20) Brian O’Riordan (Leinster – UCD)
(21) Paul Burke (Munster – Garryowen)
(22) Shaun Payne (Munster – Dolphin)

Not considered due to injury: Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College), John O’Sullivan (Connacht – Garryowen), Leo Cullen (Leinster – Blackrock College), Neil McMillan (Ulster – Ballymena).

Coach: Michael Bradley
Assistant Coach: Allen Clarke
Manager: Joey Miles

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For the Record: The Ireland A squad picked to face England A in March 2003, was as follows:

(15) Gordon Darcy (Leinster – Lansdowne)
(14) James Topping (Ulster – Ballymena)
(13) Gavin Duffy (Connacht – Galwegians)
(12) David Quinlan (Leinster – Blackrock College)
(11) Tyrone Howe (Ulster – Dungannon)
(10) Barry Everitt (London Irish)
(9) Brian O’Meara (Leinster – Cork Constitution)
(1) Emmett Byrne (Leinster – St. Mary’s College)
(2) Paul Shields (Ulster – Ballymena)
(3) Simon Best (Ulster – Belfast Harlequins)
(4) Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster – Cork Constitution)
(5) Jeremy Davidson (Ulster – Dungannon) (Capt)
(6) Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
(7) Kieron Dawson (London Irish)
(8) Des Dillon (Leinster – UCD)

Replacements:

(16) James Blaney (Munster – Shannon)

(17) Peter Bracken (Connacht – Galwegians)
(18) Mick O’Driscoll (Munster – Cork Constitution)
(19) Aidan McCullen (Leinster – Lansdowne)
(20) Mike Prendergast (Munster – Young Munster)

(21) Mark McHugh (Connacht – St. Mary’s College)

(22) Anthony Horgan (Munster – Cork Constitution)