Sam Prendergast starts third game in a week as Emerging Ireland look to finish tour on a high
Emerging Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named his side for Wednesday's encounter with the Cheetahs at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein
Sam Prendergast will start his third Emerging Ireland game in seven days as James Culhane will captain the team for the first time in Wednesday's clash with the Cheetahs (6pm)
After two victories, head coach Simon Easterby is hoping that the tour ends on a high note as tour captain Alex Kendellen is given the evening off after starting the first two wins against Pumas and Western Force.
“When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part," he said.
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"To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
"The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot.
"While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Culhane forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force.
Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
In the backline, Prendergast will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacement against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out.
Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Zac Ward named in the back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne, who moves to the right wing.
Loosehead prop George Hadden is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday's win.
Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Emerging Ireland Team & Replacements
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
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