Holland To Captain Emerging Ireland

Munster’s Billy Holland will captain Emerging Ireland for their Tbilisi Cup encounter with tournament hosts Georgia tomorrow afternoon. In total, nine changes are made to the starting line-up from Wednesday’s victory over Uruguay with five Munster players included in the matchday squad.

After two bonus point victories Emerging Ireland have claimed the Tbilisi Cup title but Sunday's game gives the squad another chance to impress against a side that are preparing for Rugby World Cup 2015. Georgia are in Pool C of the World Cup alongside New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Namibia. Sunday's Emerging Ireland game will be streamed live on the Georgia Rugby Union website.

An impressive season to date for the captain, Holland, saw him nominated for Munster Player of the Year and win his 100^th cap for the province. The Cork-man also won inclusion in the Ireland squad ahead of the 6 Nations clash with England in March but didn't make the matchday 23.

For tomorrow’s fixture Eoghan Masterson switches to the blindside flank in place of the injured Rhys Ruddock and is joined in the back-row by Dan Leavy at open-side and Jack Conan at No.8. Holland is partnered in the engine room by Ben Marshall, while Rob Herring returns to make it an all senior international front row alongside Munster duo James Cronin and Stephen Archer.

Luke McGrath and Munster 10 JJ Hanrahan return at half-back with Noel Reid and Stuart McCloskey paired in the midfield. Matt Healy has recovered from a stomach bug and will play alongside Munster winger Andrew Conway and Tiernan O'Halloran in the back three.

The replacements include Dave Heffernan, Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Andrew Browne, Frank Taggart, John Cooney, Eoin Griffin and Peter Nelson.

EMERGING IRELAND v Georgia, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia KO 19:00 / 16:00 Irish time.

15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster)
13. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
12. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
11. Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)
10. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
9. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)

1. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
3. Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4. Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
5. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster) – capt.
6. Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17. Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)
19. Andrew Browne (Galwegians /Connacht)
20. Frank Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21. John Cooney (Terenure/Connacht)
22. Eoin Griffin (London Irish)
23. Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)


Emerging Ireland Fixtures / Results

Saturday 13^th June
Emerging Italy 0 EMERGING IRELAND 25

Wednesday 17^th June
Uruguay 7 EMERGING IRELAND 33

Georgia v EMERGING IRELAND
Sunday 21^st June 19:00 (16:00 GMT)