Seven changes in Ireland 'A' side

There are seven changes to the Ireland A team that will play England Saxons this Sunday in the final of the Churchill Cup (KO 9.30pm Irish time) from the side that won last time out in the tournament against Georgia.

Declan Kidney and his Ireland coaching staff have continued to rotate the squad during the tournament to give vital experience to the players and to allow them to look at the players up against international opposition.

With some players having already featured during the senior tour, the Ireland coaching staff has again opted to vary the selections and this is the third different team that has taken the field in Denver, with four of those changes for this Sunday in the backline.

Felix Jones retains his place at full back and is joined in the back three by Denis Hurley who starts on the right wing instead of Simon Keogh who will now act as scrumhalf cover in the replacements.

Johne Murphy is selected on the left wing for the third consecutive game and Keith Matthews returns to the starting team at centre in place of James Downey.

Isaac Boss returns to scrumhalf and partners Jonathan Sexton, who after coming on in both games against Canada and Georgia, starts at out half.

Chris Henry comes into the team at number eight in place of John Muldoon, who moves to the replacements, with blindside Neil Best being named as captain of an Ireland side for the first time.

Devon Toner, man of the match in the opening game against Canada, returns to the second row in place of Trevor Hogan.

The final change in the team is at hooker, where Sean Cronin swaps places with Dennis Fogarty to start the game, with Fogarty among the replacements.

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said: 'Sunday is a massive challenge for the team to play the defending Churchill Cup champions, but one they are all looking forward to.

'England has huge strength in depth and could easily put out another two or three sides of similar strength, so it will require a really good performance from us.

'England has been impressive in their first two games and I am sure they will want to retain their title which will give them a three -in-a row.

'The games in the Churchill Cup and the senior tour were all about exposing the players to international level rugby and also allowing the coaches to work with the players more closely.

'The pervious two games allowed us to do that and it has been a good experience for all of us.'

Captain Neil Best said: 'It's a great honour for me to captain the team and I was delighted when Declan asked me to do the job. It's been a great tournament for us so far and we are looking forward to Sunday.

'Playing in England, I obviously now quite a lot of the Saxons team and they are an excellent side, so we really need to bring our best performance out for the last game.'

Ireland A v England Saxons (Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado Sunday, 21st June 2009)

15-Felix Jones (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
14-Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
13-Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster)
12-Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11-Johne Murphy (Leicester)
10-Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster)
9-Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
1-Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2-Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3-Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
4-Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5-Devon Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6-Neil Best (Northampton Saints) Captain
7-Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)
8-Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements:
16-Dennis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17-Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
18-Trevor Hogan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19-John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
20-Simon Keogh (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
21-Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
22-James Downey (Northampton Saints)