SCOTLAND CLUB XV v IRELAND CLUB XV, Millbrae, Ayr, 7.30pm
Team News: The Ireland Club Team to play their Scottish counterparts in Millbrae, Ayr on Friday night has been named. The men in green will be defending the Dalriada Cup which they won last season on home soil.
The 23-man Ireland squad shows nine changes, including six new caps, to the side which defeated England 30-20 Counties last month.
Gerry Hurley of Cork Constitution will again captain the team and he has a new half-back partner as Gavin Dunne of St. Mary’s College comes in for his first cap.
Richie Mullane is again selected at full-back with Cian Aherne and Darragh Fanning on the wings and Stuart Morrow and Killian Lett forming the centre partnership.
Colm McMahon, Risteard Byrne and Kevin Griffin will combine in the front row. Clontarf’s Simon Crawford has been ruled out through injury, so Brian Quill from UCC will make his debut alongside Ben Reilly in the second row.
The back row is unchanged with William Ryan and Danny Kenny packing down alongside the experienced Frank Cogan.
Among the replacements, Charlie Butterworth, Shane Grannell, Darragh Lyons and Foster Horan are all in line to win their first Club International caps.
Meanwhile, the selected Scotland Club side boasts players from nine RBS Premier Division clubs and will be captained by Currie back rower Mark Cairns.
Some 17 players in the squad are uncapped at Club International level with 11 in the starting line-up.
The new starters are Currie full-back Jamie Forbes, Ayr winger Craig Gossman, Heriot’s centre Max Learmonth, Gala winger Craig Robertson and scrum half George Graham, Boroughmuir prop Robin Hislop, Edinburgh Accies prop Alex Allan and flanker Hamish Watson, Aberdeen Grammar lock Murray Douglas, Melrose lock Ross Miller and number 8 Andrew Nagle.
SCOTLAND CLUB XV: Jamie Forbes (Currie); Craig Gossman (Ayr), Max Learmonth (Heriot’s), Dean Kelbrick (Ayr), Craig Robertson (Gala); Lee Millar (Gala), George Graham (Gala); Robin Hislop (Boroughmuir), Fraser Brown (Heriot’s), Alex Allan (Edinburgh Accies), Murray Douglas (Aberdeen Grammar), Ross Miller (Melrose), Mark Cairns (Currie) (capt), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Accies), Andrew Nagle (Melrose).
Replacements: Kevin Bryce (Heriot’s), Gary Holborn (Melrose), Luke Pettie (Gala), Jason Hill (Heriot’s), Gary Graham (Gala), Peter Jericevich (Ayr), Stuart Edwards (Stirling County), Cameron Ferguson (Heriot’s).
IRELAND CLUB XV: Richie Mullane (Shannon); Cian Aherne (Lansdowne), Killian Lett (Clontarf), Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch), Darragh Fanning (St. Mary’s College); Gavin Dunne (St. Mary’s College), Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution) (capt); Colm McMahon (St. Mary’s College), Ristead Byrne (UCD), Kevin Griffin (Shannon), Brian Quill (UCC), Ben Reilly (Clontarf), William Ryan (UCC), Danny Kenny (UCD), Frank Cogan (Clontarf).
Replacements: Pat O’Regan (Old Belvedere), Richie Sweeney (St. Mary’s College), Charlie Butterworth (Lansdowne), Shane Grannell (UCD), Sam Cronin (Clontarf), Darragh Lyons (Cork Constitution), Foster Horan (Lansdowne).
Referee: Thomas Foley (England)
Assistant Referees: Cammy Rudkin, Bob Nevins (both Scotland)
Pre-Match Quotes – Conor Twomey (Ireland Club XV): “Beating England was a proud day for all of us. It was a great effort, we were hanging in at the end. Frank Cogan said it pre-match that these kind of games are won in the 90th minute, they go down to the wire.
“We showed great character to get the win and we got revenge for losing in Preston last year when we left it behind us. At least we were on the right side of the result this time.
“Now we face Scotland. Scotland away is always a tough prospect. We got a tight win over them last year to win the cup and we’re determined to defend it. Both sides have some fresh faces in and it should be a very good game.”
Phil Leck (Scotland Club XV): “We have gone for a mix of experience and youth in this side and put together a group of players we know are capable of executing our game plan and winning.
“We want to play a quick, expansive game and the players have worked hard and bought into the tactics we have put in place.
“However, the challenge with playing at this level is you know very little about your opponents, so you have to adapt to what they bring to the match.
“A few players have unfortunately had to pull out due to injury, notably Ayr’s Nick Cox and Scott Sutherland, but I believe we have put the best side together that can beat Ireland. We are going out to win, end of story.”
Ireland Club XV: Previous Matches –
2006: Ireland Club XV 30 Scotland Club XV 13, Donnybrook
2007: Ireland Club XV 20 England Counties 17, Donnybrook; Scotland Club XV 18 Ireland Club XV 11, Boroughmuir RFC
2008: Ireland Club XV 20 Scotland Club XV 15, Donnybrook
2009: Ireland Club XV 13 England Counties 13, Donnybrook; Scotland Club XV 31 Ireland Club XV 18, Watsonians RFC
2010: England Counties 29 Ireland Club XV 25, Stourbridge RFC; Ireland Club XV 21 Scotland Club XV 18, Donnybrook
2011: Scotland Club XV 30 Ireland Club XV 32, Netherdale, Gala RFC; Ireland Club XV 16 England Counties 8, Anglesea Road
2012: Ireland Club XV 26 Scotland Club XV 21, Anglesea Road, Old Belvedere RFC; England Counties 34 Ireland Club XV 16, Preston Grasshoppers RFC
2013: Ireland Club XV 30 England Counties 20, Temple Hill, Cork Constitution FC