Ireland A team announcement pre Tonga

 
The Ireland A Rugby management have announced their squad for this Friday’s Autumn International against Tonga at Ravenhill (7.00pm).

The team will be captained by Leinster’s Shane Horgan and also includes some experienced internationals in Peter Stringer and Neil Best.

Stringer will partner Ulster’s Ian Humphries in the half backs while Best will have Sean O’Brien and Chris Henry with him the backrow.

There is also the exciting young centre partnership of Darren Cave and Fergus McFadden to set Belfast alight on Friday night.

Up front Mike Ross and Brett Wilkinson will anchor the front row while a vacancy has been left at hooker pending the Ireland team announcement tomorrow.

Devin Toner and Donncha Ryan will provide the second row partnership.

Manager Joey Miles, Head Coach Michael Bradley and captain Shane Horgan gave their views on this weekends match.

Sportspeak’s Cóilín Duffy was among those asking the questions at today’s press Conference at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club in Belfast ahead of Friday’s clash against the Tongans.

Ireland ‘A’ Team & Replacements (V Tonga, Friday, November 13th, Ravenhill, 19:00)

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
14. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) Captain
13. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
12. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10. Ian Humphreys (Ballymena/Ulster)
9. Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
1. Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)
2. A.N. Other
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
6. Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
7. Neil Best (Northampton Saints)
8. Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17. Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster)
20. Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
21. Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers).