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Emerging Ireland forced into three changes for South African tour

By Liam Heagney
Leinster's Charlie Tector in action at Edinburgh last Friday (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Simon Easterby has confirmed three changes to his Emerging Ireland squad of 33 ahead of next Saturday’s departure to South Africa. The tour head coach had last week unveiled his original selection to travel to Bloemfontein for the October matches versus the Pumas, Western Force and the Cheetahs, but injuries have led to a rejig before the group assembles in Dublin on Wednesday.

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An IRFU statement read: “There are a number of changes to the Emerging Ireland squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa. Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle and Tommy O’Brien are unavailable and will be replaced by Ireland Sevens back Chay Mullins, Munster prop Mark Donnelly and Leinster’s Charlie Tector respectively.

“The squad will convene on Wednesday morning in the IRFU high performance centre before travelling to South Africa on Saturday.”

Connacht separately confirmed that Bolton “suffered a knee laceration” in their opening round URC loss at Munster, allowing his place to be taken by Mullins, a recent Paris Olympic Games pick.

O’Brien, meanwhile, picked up a hamstring injury in the opening half of Leinster’s win at Edinburgh and his spot in Easterby’s squad has been taken by Tector, who impressed as a starter in that same URC match. Boyle, another Leinster player, has also missed out through injury, paving the way for Munster’s Donnelly to be called up.

Related

Emerging Ireland Squad
Forwards (18):
Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Mark Donnelly (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Connacht)
Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster)(captain)
Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

Backs (15):
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Chay Mullins (Connacht/Ireland Sevens)
Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster)
Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)

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Comments

1 Comment
M
MO 21 mins ago

Brilliant move by Ireland and South Africa sadly NZRU has gone so far backwards grooming new players is not on the horizon

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Terry24 47 minutes ago
Everyone knows the Springboks' ranking was puffed up

Rassie's video before the Series matches kept implying that Ireland were arrogant and needed taking down: 'unfinished business'.

Etzebeth's attack on the Irish team and DeAllende's attack on the Irish media had exactly the same theme: arrogance. It's not a coincidence. Obviously you don't spend an entire article attacking a country but you drop in an insult which is exactly what DeAllende did. Out of the blue about Irish arrogance continuing a theme that Rassie knows irritates Ireland, since NZ media started it after the series in NZ 2022. (It irritates Ireland because its completely untrue).

In the RWC Rassie (and Foster) kept publicly saying that Ireland were not respecting/needed to respect Scotland. This is blatant interference in two pool competitors match. Ireland fell for this and oput way too much into the Scotland match instead of viewing it as a match to be one minimally with the ultimate test coming 6-7 days later against NZ needing all reserves.

I am surprized at your comment re Ireland. Didn't you see many of our young reserves on the team that beat SA in Durban? There are a load more coming through in all positions: the opening round of the URC was an eye opener with the performance of Irish teams and young Irish players. These players are playing for emerging Ireland, Irish wolfhounds, U20s etc. They are well enconced in the system before they get their international caps.

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W
Werner 1 hour ago
Everyone knows the Springboks' ranking was puffed up

I think you give way too much creedence to the conspiracies about rassies off field tactics and mind games. not sure what was to be gained from him sending out DDA and Eben to 'disrespect' Ireland. If you read DDA interview he's actually very respectful to the Irish team and keeps stating how tough and dominant they are and how forward he looks to and epic battle. So again not sure what bridges he burnt. Rassies tactics have always been about motivating his team, yes perhaps using fictitious storylines but they have never been about distracting or disrespecting the opposition and not meant for airing in public.


Before you mention his lions tour video rant that was not to get under the lions skin but instead to get a reaction from world rugby and the refs. To this day I don't think I've seen another ref laugh at or brush off one Kolisi questions since... So mission accomplished.


Nienaber and Jones have strong accolades in their own rights but don't write off Rassie as someone who rides coat tales and don't discount how he has helped develop and sponsor them. His track record speaks for itself. Remembering his skill set isn't tactics and strategies it's build teams and support systems. SA have in large part him to thank for their approach to player depth and success of their rush defense, with all the ground work and systems he put in place across WP, the Free state and during his tenure as technical assistant to SA.


In terms of their future I'd say it's looking bright. Barring the Argentinian game there has been a lot of points left on the field by the boks and with time some of those players will gel and start converting those points. I wish I was as optimistic about Ireland however I'm growing more and more nervous that Schmidt aversion for blooding new players has hampered Ireland's depth and hamstrung Farrel, in particular across the backline. Larmour, Keenan, Frawley and Crowley should all have gotten call ups earlier than they did to start getting mentored and engrained in the team. Seem to be the only team in WR to debut players only after they turn 22 y.o

239 Go to comments
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