Isaac The Boss For Ireland ‘A’

The Ireland ‘A’ side to play Scotland ‘A’ in Perth will be captained by Ulster’s Isaac Boss. He will be joined at half-back by his provincial team-mate Niall O’Connor, who played for the Ireland Under-20s last season. The back-line also includes Ireland-capped player Gavin Duffy.

Up front Cian Healy will partner Frankie Sheahan and Declan Fitzpatrick in the front row while Ryan Caldwell and Trevor Hogan will form a strong-looking second row.

The back row includes Stephen Keogh and Niall Ronan while Stephen Ferris is also included having recovered from knee surgery and played for Ulster in the Magners League last weekend.

Boss, Duffy, Healy, Sheahan, Hogan, Caldwell and Keogh are the only survivors from the Ireland ‘A’ side that lost to 31-13 to England Saxons at Welford Road two weeks ago.

IRELAND ‘A’ TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Scotland ‘A’, McDiarmid Park, Perth, Friday, February 22, 2008, kick-off 7.30pm):
 
Player    Club

15 – Daniel Riordan (Buccaneers/Connacht)

14 – Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster)

13 – Kieran Lewis (Garryowen/Munster)

12 – Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

11 – Gary Brown (Blackrock College/Leinster)

10 – Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

9 – Isaac Boss (Ballymena /Ulster) (capt)
 
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2 – Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

3 – Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)

4 – Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)

5 – Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)

6 – Stephen Keogh (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

7 – Niall Ronan (Lansdowne/Munster)

8 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

Replacements:

16 – Adrian Flavin or John Fogarty 

17 – Mike Ross (Harlequins)

18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

19 – David Pollock (Dungannon/Ulster)

20 – Chris Keane (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

21 – Andy Dunne (Old Belvedere/Connacht)

22 – Keith Earls (Garryowen/Munster)