Garryowen’s Neil Cronin to continue as Ireland captain for second clash with Scotland

Munster Senior Cup winning captain Neil Cronin will lead Ireland out once again on Friday evening as the men in green for their second and final game against Scotland.

Cronin is coming into the game following a big win on the coaching front, the St Munchin’s backs coach saw his side lift the Junior Cup for the first time in 20 years earlier this month.

The scrum-half will resume his Garryowen half-back partnership with Jamie Gavin who again starts at 10 while Young Munster’s Colm Skehan keeps his place in the front row. Thomond’s Maurice Hartery continues as team manager.

Head coach Morgan Lennon and assistant coach Johne Murphy have made three personnel changes – and a number of positional switches – to the side that won the opening fixture 26-23 at Dubarry Park almost three weeks ago.

Terenure College hooker and captain Robbie Smyth comes into the side and forms the front row with Old Wesley’s Cronan Glesson and Skehan. Clontarf skipper Ben Reilly has also been added to the second row, packing down alongside Terenure’s Alex Thompson.

Thompson’s club-mate Michael Melia, who was the man-of-the-match for Ireland in Athlone last month, moves from the engine room to blindside flanker, with Lansdowne’s Jack Dwan and number 8 Michael Noone from Clontarf completing the back row.

Matt D’Arcy, who bagged his eighth league try of the campaign for Clontarf last weekend, and Cork Constitution’s 2017 league title-winning captain Niall Kenneally continue together in midfield.

There is an all-Lansdowne back-three for the return leg in Galashiels as full-back Eamonn Mills – the third personnel change – links up with Daniel McEvoy, the scorer of the match-winning try in the first game, and Harry Brennan.

The visitors’ bench includes two Ireland Club XV debutants in Cashel prop James Kendrick and Naas winger/full-back Fionn Higgins. This is the twelfth season of the Club international fixture between Ireland and Scotland, and as it stands, Ireland’s record is seven wins and five defeats.

The sides are competing for the Dalriada Cup, which was first introduced in 2011, and the Scottish side have lifted the trophy on the last two occasions – 2015 at Netherdale and 2016 at Temple Hill.

IRELAND CLUB INTERNATIONAL Team & Replacements (v Scotland Clubs, Ulster Bank Club International Match, Netherdale, Galashiels, Friday, March 16, kick-off 7.30pm):

15. Eamonn Mills (Lansdowne)
14. Harry Brennan (Lansdowne)
13. Niall Kenneally (Cork Constitution)
12. Matt D’Arcy (Clontarf)
11. Daniel McEvoy (Lansdowne)
10. Jamie Gavin (Garryowen)
9. Neil Cronin (Garryowen) (capt)
1. Cronan Gleeson (Old Wesley)
2. Robbie Smyth (Terenure College) *
3. Colm Skehan (Young Munster)
4. Ben Reilly (Clontarf)
5. Alex Thompson (Terenure College)
6. Michael Melia (Terenure College)
7. Jack Dwan (Lansdowne)
8. Michael Noone (Clontarf)

Replacements:

16. Paddy Finlay (Dublin University)
17. Tom O’Reilly (St. Mary’s College)
18. James Kendrick (Cashel) *
19. Joe McSwiney (Cork Constitution)
20. Paulie Tolofua (Naas)
21. Angus Lloyd (Dublin University)
22. Mark O’Neill (Tenenure College)
23. Fionn Higgins (Naas) *

* Denotes uncapped player at this level

IRELAND ULSTER BANK CLUB INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT –

Head Coach – Morgan Lennon
Assistant Coach – Johne Murphy
Team Manager – Maurice Hartery
Baggage Master – David Jermyn
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Cathal Murtagh
Doctor – Stuart O’Flanagan
Physio – Ailbe McCormack

2017/18 CLUB INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:

Ireland Club XV 26 Scotland Clubs 23
Friday, February 23
Dubarry Park, Athone

Scotland Clubs v Ireland Club XV
Friday, March 16, kick-off 7.30pm
Netherdale, Galashiels