JJ HANRAHAN AND Luke McGrath will make up the halfback pairing for Emerging Ireland’s clash with Uruguay at the IRB Nations Cup on Wednesday [KO 2.00pm Irish time].
The Munster out-half and Leinster scrum-half are among the 10 personnel changes head coach Dan McFarland has made to the side that beat Russia 66-0 in just 45 minutes of play on Friday.
Emerging Ireland ran in 10 tries in that game – their first in the Bucharest-based tournament – before an electrical storm forced referee Ian Davies to abandon the encounter.
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Ahead of the clash with Uruguay, McFarland and assistant coach Neil Doak have opted for an entirely new front row in John Ryan, Ricky Lutton and promising 20-year-old Leinster hooker Bryan Byrne.
In the second row, Billy Holland replaces Munster teammate Dave Foley, while Sean Dougall and Paddy Butler join Tommy O’Donnell in the back row, with the latter shifting across to the blindside.
McFarland's men destroyed Russia in their first game at the Nations Cup. FFR.RO / INPHO
FFR.RO / INPHO / INPHO
Hanrahan and McGrath are at 9 and 10, with Leinster’s Brendan Macken coming into the XV at outside centre, meaning Eoin Griffin slides in one place to wear the 12 shirt.
In the back three, Craig Gilroy and Johne Murphy swap positions, with the Ulster flyer at fullback, while Michael Allen replaces Andrew Conway on the left wing. Munster man Murphy has been named as captain.
Emerging Ireland team to face Uruguay on Wednesday [KO 2.00pm Irish time]:
15- Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
14- Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster) (Captain)
13- Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)
12- Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)
11- Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10 – JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
9- Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
1- John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
2- Bryan Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster)
3- Ricky Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
4- Mick Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht)
5- Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6- Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
7- Sean Dougall (Dolphin/Munster)
8- Paddy Butler (Shannon/Munster)
Replacements:
16- James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
17- Callum Black (Malone/Ulster)
18- David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)
19- Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
20- Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
21- Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
22- Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster)
Anybody, especially Connacht fans, agree Michael Allen should be head hunted for a season? Serious player, who will be behind Gilroy, Trimble, Bowe, Payne, Marshall, Cave, Olding, McCloskey and a possible foreign signing next season. The man would be a serious addition and could star in Challenge Cup. We can’t have possible internationals playing B & I cup when they’re clearly good enough for European competition.
In fairness, McCloskey seems to be a big bulky 12 and Allen is a smaller, nimbler 13/wing.
I don’t think they’re competing directly against each other anyway.
I agree, McCloskey could be fast tracked through the ranks as he’s a rare enough breed in terms of his size. Although Allen is apparently a bit of a bull himself!!
Missed all of last season due a ruptured acl and then broke a bone playing for the ravens coming back. Gone on a one year deal to get game time. Personal choice really.
It’s good to see Macken at 13. Hopefully, he will score a few tries in this game. If he makes a real impression, it would be a good sign for Leinster. Allen on the wing can certainly do damage too.
McGrath and JJ Hanrahan at half backs will also be interesting. They are potentially the future.
Ryan and Byrne in the front row will be worth monitoring, especially Byrne as he could make the step up to the Leinster bench next season.
Paddy Butler too will be good to watch.
Kearney is a seriously underrated player in my opinion so it’s good to see him getting game time here.
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Really looking forward to seeing/hearing how McGrath and JJ play together. It won’t be the last time, I’ll wager.
Anybody, especially Connacht fans, agree Michael Allen should be head hunted for a season? Serious player, who will be behind Gilroy, Trimble, Bowe, Payne, Marshall, Cave, Olding, McCloskey and a possible foreign signing next season. The man would be a serious addition and could star in Challenge Cup. We can’t have possible internationals playing B & I cup when they’re clearly good enough for European competition.
He’s ahead of McCloskey
In fairness, McCloskey seems to be a big bulky 12 and Allen is a smaller, nimbler 13/wing.
I don’t think they’re competing directly against each other anyway.
I agree, McCloskey could be fast tracked through the ranks as he’s a rare enough breed in terms of his size. Although Allen is apparently a bit of a bull himself!!
Frankie, why did the irfu allow Chris Farrell to go to France? Farrell and Henshaw would have been power and pace.
Missed all of last season due a ruptured acl and then broke a bone playing for the ravens coming back. Gone on a one year deal to get game time. Personal choice really.
It’s good to see Macken at 13. Hopefully, he will score a few tries in this game. If he makes a real impression, it would be a good sign for Leinster. Allen on the wing can certainly do damage too.
McGrath and JJ Hanrahan at half backs will also be interesting. They are potentially the future.
Ryan and Byrne in the front row will be worth monitoring, especially Byrne as he could make the step up to the Leinster bench next season.
Paddy Butler too will be good to watch.
Kearney is a seriously underrated player in my opinion so it’s good to see him getting game time here.
Does anybody know if this is on any TV/stream ?
IRB Website
http://www.irb.com
Luke McGrath and JJ Hanrahan is the best halfback pairing in world rugby
That’s a very big billing?
Why isn’t BOD playing?