Emerging Ireland Team Named To Face Western Force

Emerging Ireland opened the series with a 36-24 victory over The Pumas on Wednesday and Head Coach Simon Easterby has freshened up the Match Day Squad for Sunday’s game in Bloemfontein.

Captain Alex Kendellen is one of two players retained in the starting pack against the Australian side and is joined in the back row by Sean Jansen and Alex Soroka.

Cormac Izuchukwu, a try-scorer on Wednesday afternoon, shifts to second row alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh, while another try-scorer from the opening game, hooker Gus McCarthy, starts in a new-look front row alongside Alex Usanov and Ronan Foxe who all featured as second half replacements last time out.

In the backline, Sam Prendergast retains his place at out-half and he will partner scrum-half Ethan Coughlan.

Sean O’Brien shifts to left wing in a back three which will see first appearances for fullback Andrew Osborne and Ireland Sevens Olympian Chay Mullins who starts on the right wing, while Jude Postlethwaite forms a new midfield combination alongside Hugh Cooney.

Jack Aungier, who started in the Pumas win, will be joined by hooker Danny Sheahan and tight-head prop Scott Wilson on a bench which again includes Evan O’Connell.

Sean Edogbo provides back row cover and the Munster man is joined for the first time by Leinster half-back duo and Charlie Tector, who are set for their first appearances of the Tour, and Connacht’s Hugh Gavin who started last time out.

Looking ahead to the game at Toyota Stadium, Easterby said: “The squad has really embraced the opportunity to represent their country since our arrival in South Africa and we are expecting another big step up on Sunday. Western Force got off to a flier on Wednesday night against the Cheetahs and it is clear that they are a well-drilled side with a lot of quality.

“The earlier kick off time presents a new challenge, but this is exactly the kind of test we want for the squad. We have freshened up the team this weekend, with a number of replacements from the midweek game getting their first starts, and there are other new faces coming into the panel for the first time.

This freshness will give the squad some energy and there has been a good intensity to training, which I’m pleased about. The players are focused and excited about Sunday’s game and we’re hopeful of further signs of progression.”

The three-match Series will be shown live on SuperSport and will be available on IrishRugby+, which you can register for free here.

Emerging Ireland (v Western Force):

15. Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
14. Chay Mullins (Ireland Sevens/Connacht)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12. Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster)
11: Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)

1. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)
3. Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)
4. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
7. Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)
8. Sean Jansen (Connacht)

Replacements:

16. Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17. Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
18 Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
19. Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
20. Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
21. Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
22. Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
23. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht).