Ireland bid to maintain a remarkable winning sequence against Scotland when the teams meet in the under-21 international at Ravenhill tonight (7.30). The Irish have never lost to their Celtic cousins at this level and will be desperate to defend that proud record.
Lansdowne fullback Gordon D'Arcy returns after missing the England game through injury while Des Dillon takes the opposite route, ruled out by a broken finger. Chris McCarey moves to number eight with John Skurr winning his first cap on the blindside.
Ireland's performance against England in Banbury was a great deal more accomplished than their 20-11 defeat suggests. They dominated for the majority of the second half and should have scored at least three tries. It was the manner in which Ireland embraced their task that was the most striking.
Faced by a physically superior pack, they weathered a torrid first half up front, albeit conceding two soft tries, but then completely dictated the forward exchanges in the second period. Dungannon flanker Andrew Hughes and Young Munster second row Paul O'Connell were the pick of a fine forward effort.
Outhalf Jeremy Staunton was outstanding on the night and coach Ciaran Fitzgerald will be hoping for an equally prominent performance. D'Arcy's return should provide greater potency behind the scrum.
IRELAND: G D'Arcy (Lansdowne); J Norton (UCD), P Wallace (UCD), S Moore (UCD, capt), S Keogh (Old Belvedere); J Staunton (Garryowen), K Campbell (London Irish); N Foxe (St Mary's College), A Flavin (London Irish), N Treston (Blackrock); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), P O'Connell (Young Munster); J Skurr (Ottley), C McCarey (Ballymena), A Hughes (Dungannn).
SCOTLAND: B Irving (Glasgow); B Rutheven (Melrose), I McInroy (Glasgow), R Stewart (Hull), K Davidson (Hawick); C MacRae (Melrose), R Blake (Bristol); E Murray (Glasgow) Southern), D Hall (Hillhead), B Douglas (Heriot's FP); A Hall (Moseley), T Palmer (Leeds); A Brown (Dundee), S Taylor (Heriot's FP), D McFadyen (Glasgow, capt).
