Five Munster Rugby players named on Emerging Ireland squad to play Cheetahs

FIVE Munster Rugby players have been named on the final match day squad for the Emerging Ireland side who will play the Cheetahs tomorrow in Bloemfontein at 6pm Irish time.

Munster's Ben O’Connor, Evan O’Connell and Sean Edogbo will all start tomorrow evening's game while Danny Sheahan and George Hadden start on the bench. 

The Emerging Ireland side have won their previous two games on the South African tour against the Pumas and Western Force.

Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he 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 on Sunday afternoon. 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, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.

Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, 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 once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy. 

EMERGING IRELAND SIDE TO FACE CHEETAHS 

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)