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Experienced Ireland 'A' to face Canucks
Scrum.com
June 10, 2009
Preview Report
Ireland's Tony Buckley takes on the New Zealand defence, New Zealand v Ireland, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, June 7, 2008
Tony Buckley starts for Ireland 'A' © Getty Images

Ulster scrum-half Isaac Boss will captain Ireland 'A' in their opening game of the Churchill Cup against Canada. Ireland 'A' are coached by Declan Kidney, boss of the full Ireland side, and take on the Canucks two weeks after a weakened Ireland side won 25-6 in Vancouver.

Munster prop Tony Buckley, a try-scorer that day, starts up front alongside Bryan Young and Sean Cronin while Devin Toner and Donnacha Ryan man the second-row. Northampton's Neil Best and Leinster's Sean O'Brien both get starts in the back-row alongside No.8 Chris Henry.

Niall O'Connor starts at fly-half, while Denis Hurley provides capped experience from fullback. Exciting Leicester wing Johne Murphy also gets a start.

Canada go in to the game of the back of a 42-10 victory over Georgia in their opening pool match, but nevertheless coach Kieran Crowley has made three personnel changes and one positional switch.

Dan Pletch starts at loose-head prop in place of the injured Kevin Tkachuk while Phil Mack will start at scrum-half, with Ed Fairhurst moving to the replacements bench. Justin Mensah-Coker starts on the wing with James Pritchard and Matt Evans completing the back-three.

Ireland 'A': Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster); Fionn Carr (Galwegians/Connacht), Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster), Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht), Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers); Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) (capt); Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Neil Best (Northampton Saints), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements: Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Trevor Hogan (Blackrock College/Leinster), John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht), Frank Murphy (Buccaneers/Connacht), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster), James Downey (Northampton Saints).

Canada: Matt Evans (Hartpury College); Justin Mensah-Coker (Moseley RFC), Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers), DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors), James Pritchard (Bedford Blues); Ander Monro (Colorno), Phil Mack (James Bay AA); Dan Pletch (Niagara Thunder), Pat Riordan (University of Victoria) (capt), Andrew Tiedemann (University of Victoria), Tyler Hotson (UBC Old Boy Ravens), Mike Burak (Unattached), Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers), Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria), Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins/Coventry).

Replacements: Mike Pletch (Velox Valhallians), Frank Walsh (Dogs RFC), Doug Wooldridge (Cowichan RFC), Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers), John Moonlight (University of Victoria), Ed Fairhurst (Cornish Pirates), Sean Duke (University of Victoria).

Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)

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