Club International Preview: It's a novel concept and one that will be warmly appreciated by AIB All-Ireland League players and their counterparts in Scotland. Representing your country is always a cherished honour irrespective of the context.
Irish coach Geoff Moylan and manager Mick Galwey have assembled some of the finest young players in the country in a team that will be led by David Quinlan, a cousin of Munster flanker Alan. The backline includes two former Ireland internationals, Gareth Steenson and Glen Telford, who played in the under-21 World Cup final defeat by New Zealand a couple of seasons ago.
UCD student Stephen Grissing is a burgeoning talent while Leinster coach Michael Cheika is also keeping an eye on the progress of Trinity lock Marc Warburton and Clontarf prop Robert Sweeney. Up front, Donnacha Ryan was last night ruled out of the side by injury so Alan Maher moves from the replacements to the starting side. Rory McGrath takes Maher's position in the replacements.
UCD backrow forward Kevin Croke and young Garryowen scrumhalf Jerry Hurley are two other players who have the ability to play at higher levels and will be keen to prove this with some game time this evening.
Gary Parker, head coach of the Scotland Club International team, said: "The advent of professionalism has meant for many players it became simply a pipe dream to think of playing for their country - a dream out of their reach. Now there's a massive opportunity.
"When I was a player I wanted to play for Scotland. As a coach I want to coach Scotland. This for me is all about giving a group of players the chance to represent Scotland."
Tickets are available at the gate.
IRELAND: D Hurley (UCC); N O'Brien (Clontarf), S Grissing (UCD), G Telford (Dungannon), D Keane (Clontarf); G Steenson (Dungannon), F O'Loughlin (Clontarf); N Conlon (Dublin University), M Crockett (Dublin University), S Shaw (Ballymena); M Warburton (Dublin University), A Maher (Lansdowne); P Malone (Garryowen), C Hartigan (Buccaneers), D Quinlan (Buccaneers, capt). Replacements: K Corrigan (Lansdowne), R Sweeney (Clontarf), R McGrath (Dolphin), K Croke (UCD), G Hurley (Garryowen), D Delaney (Shannon), C O'Boyle (Garryowen).
SCOTLAND: M Adamson (Glasgow Hawks); M Robertson (Melrose), J Murray (Melrose), S Smith (Glasgow Hawks), R Couper (Boroughmuir); M Strang (Glasgow Hawks), C Cusiter (Boroughmuir); B McNeil (Hawick), W Mitchell (Melrose), M Low (Aberdeen GSFP); B MacFarlane (Stirling County), R Maxton (Glasgow Hawks); T McVie (Heriot's, capt), A Martyn (Boroughmuir), A Dunlop (Biggar). Replacements: D Cunningham (Boroughmuir), E McLaren (Biggar), S Warnock (Glasgow Hawks), A Jamie Murray (Melrose), A McFarlane (Ayr), S Duffy (Glasgow Hawks), R Borthwick (Stewart's-Melville FP).
