Chris Henry to skipper Irish Wolfhounds against England Saxons
- Published
Chris Henry (right) battles with Johnnie Beattie in last year's match between the Ireland Wolfhounds and Scotland A
Ulster flanker Chris Henry will captain the Ireland Wolfhounds team in Saturday's game against the England Saxons in Exeter.
The Irish second-string selection also includes his Ulster team-mates Dan Tuohy and Nevin Spence.
Munster wing Simon Zebo is named in a backline which also includes Leinster duo David Kearney and Eoin O'Malley.
Experience will be provided by full internationals Gavin Duffy, Isaac Boss, John Muldoon and Damien Varley.
Boss will be partnered at half-back by another Leinster player Ian Keatley, who has also played at senior level for Ireland.
The replacements bench includes full internationals Tomas O'Leary, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner.
Earlier this week, Zebo was called into the Wolfhounds panel because of the injured Luke Fitzgerald's unavailability.
Zebo scored a hat-trick of tries in Munster's Heineken Cup win over Northampton, external on Saturday.
Wolfhounds coach Eric Elwood is expecting a "competitive affair" against the Saxons.
"I think we have a good mix in our side and the key message is that we have to match them on all fronts, especially in the physical stakes, to come away with a win," said the Connacht coach.
"Eoin (O'Malley) and Nevin (Spence) have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon (Zebo) and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces.
"We have a touch more experience in our pack, which I think will be important for this game and good spine through it with Dan Touhy and Mike McCarthy giving us some really good ability across the set piece and in the carrying stakes to compliment a back row that I think can make a good impression."
Ireland Wolfhounds: Gavin Duffy (Connacht), David Kearney (Leinster), Eoin O'Malley (Leinster), Nevin Spence (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster), Ian Keatley (Munster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Brett Wilkinson (Connacht), Damien Varley (Munster), Stephen Archer (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), John Muldoon (Connacht), Chris Henry (Ulster) capt, Rhys Ruddock (Leinster)
Replacements: Mike Sherry (Munster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht), Devin Toner (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Denis Hurley (Munster)