Ireland Sevens standout Zac Ward is set to make an impact as one of three Ulster players in the Emerging Ireland starting lineup for their match against the Pumas on Wednesday. The game marks the first of a three-match tour in South Africa.
Joining Ward in the starting team are Harry Sheridan in the second row and Cormac Izuchukwu in the back row. The match will kick off at 15:00 BST in Bloemfontein.
Ward, 25, has impressed during his time with the Ireland Sevens team and shone at the Paris Olympics, showcasing his transition back into 15s rugby with Ulster. The squad also features captain Alex Kendellen and two other former Ireland Under-20 skippers, Evan O’Connell and Gus McCarthy, who are among the replacements.
The starting lineup includes Ben O’Connor at full-back, with Rob Russell and Ward on the wings, and Sean O’Brien partnering with Hugh Gavin in midfield. The half-back pairing consists of Sam Prendergast and Matthew Devine. The front row features Mark Donnelly, Stephen Smyth, and Jack Aungier, while Sheridan and Darragh Murray make up the second row. James Culhane completes the back row.
Head coach Simon Easterby highlighted the challenge posed by the Pumas, noting the competitive nature of their Currie Cup campaign. He emphasized the importance of these matches in creating a test environment for the younger, less experienced squad, while also managing player resources across the three games.
Ireland’s fixtures include matches against Western Force on October 6 and The Cheetahs on October 9, further providing opportunities for the squad to develop and adapt to pressure situations.
**Emerging Ireland Starting XV:**
– **Full-back:** Ben O’Connor (Munster)
– **Wings:** Rob Russell (Leinster), Zac Ward (Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
– **Centres:** Sean O’Brien (Munster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht)
– **Half-backs:** Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Matthew Devine (Connacht)
– **Front Row:** Mark Donnelly (Munster), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Jack Aungier (Connacht)
– **Second Row:** Harry Sheridan (Ulster), Darragh Murray (Connacht)
– **Back Row:** Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (captain) (Munster), James Culhane (Leinster)
**Replacements:**
– Gus McCarthy (Leinster)
– Alex Usanov (Leinster)
– Ronan Foxe (Munster)
– Evan O’Connell (Munster)
– Sean Jansen (Connacht)
– Ethan Coughlan (Munster)
– Jack Murphy (Ulster)
– Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster)