All change for Emerging Ireland ahead of Uruguay match
By Barry Coughlan in Bucharest
Rotation is clearly the policy within the Irish squad participating in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest and, in advance of Wednesday’s clash with Uruguay.
Coach Dan McFarland has made 10 changes of personnel following the slaughter of Russia on Friday.
McFarland has made six alterations in the pack, four in the backs and has also made positional changes in both sectors.
The entire front row had been switched and second row Mick Kearney as well as Tommy O’Donnell are the only survivors in the pack.
John Ryan, Bryan Byrne and Ricky Lutton form a new front row, Billy Holland joins Kearney in the second row while Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall provide coach McFarland with an all Munster back row.
Eoin Griffin switches from outside to inside centre and Johne Murphy, who captains the team, has moved from full back to wing to allow McFarland and others higher up to have a look at Craig Gilroy playing 15.
Brendan Macken gets a run at 13 as an indirect replacement for Graeme McCloskey, while Michael Allen takes Andrew Conway’s place on the left wing and there is also a change at half back with JJ Hanrahan and Luke McGrath coming in for Ian Keatley and Paul Marshall respectively.
Emerging Ireland: C Gilroy (Ulster), J Murphy (Munster, captain), B Macken (Leinster), E Griffin (Connacht), M Allen (Ulster), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), L McGrath (Leinster), J Ryan (Munster), B Byrne (Leinster), R Lutton (Ulster), M Kearney (Connacht), B Holland (Munster), T O’Donnell (Munster), P Butler (Munster), S Dougall (Munster).
Replacements. J Tracey (Leinster), C Black (Ulster), D Foley (Munster), D Ryan (Leinster), P Marshall (Ulster), I Keatley (Munster), A Conway (Munster)
