Scotland and Ireland meet at Scotstoun, Glasgow on Sunday (2pm) in the opening match of the autumn internationals series that also feature the French. Having been accorded full member status of the Rugby League International Federation recently, it is the first time that the Celtic nations have officially played each other in a recognised Test match.
Scotland coach Steve McCormack has been forced to find a new creative heart for his side. Missing three of the four pivot players who led Scotland to a record 42-22 victory over Ireland last season, McCormack sends out his first Scotland team of 2011 with a brand new half-back combination – but by no means an inexperienced one. With scrum-half Danny Brough having pledged his allegiance to England, hooker Ben Fisher undergoing an operation and stand-off Brendon Lindsay retired, McCormack has given his usual replacement hooker Andrew Henderson the starting number nine jersey with utility man Lee Paterson moving from number seven to six and John Duffy returning at scrum-half.
Duffy and Paterson have never played together as Scotland’s half-back pairing but two of the three players have combined in the pivot positions in seven of Scotland’s last ten games. All three are over 30 with a decade of top rugby league experience each behind them.
“I’ve no worries about having to change the half-backs,” says McCormack, who is in camp at Heriot-Watt University. “Pato, Hendo and Duffs have been around the squad nearly every year since I took over (in 2004) so they know what I want from my pivots and they’ve got so much experience they can interchange and adjust to the game situation. I’m looking forward to seeing one of the young kids coming off the bench and how they cope with what international rugby league is all about too.”
The replacement hooker role will go to a debutant: McCormack must choose between Halifax youngster Josh Barlow, Edinburgh Eagles’ Ulster-born Giles Lomax or Easterhouse product Chad McGlame, who has just spent a season with Hull FC Under-20s. Lomax is expected to be given the nod, having spent last season’s European Cup campaign as a non-playing squad member.
Newly-appointed Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston has selected nine uncapped players in his squad. He has also included seven players who have competed in this year’s domestic competition as he looks to build towards the 2013 World Cup. Recent St Helens recruits Ian Cross and Aaron McCloskey will both continue their meteoric rise as they pick up their first senior international caps. Also making his debut is Tongan Born Lemeki Vunipulu who has been a stalwart of the Irish domestic game over the past number of years.
Warrington Wolves Loose forward Tyrone McCarthy returns to the squad after he missed out last season due to injury although Sheffield Eagles winger Tim Bergin will miss his first match in two season as he serves a ban which he picked up during the Championship Grand Final. Aston has been able to call on the player who crushed his Championship dreams with Ireland's highest ever point scorer, Featherstone’s Liam Finn – who posted 20 points in the Grand Final against Aston’s Eagles - key to the Wolfhounds squad.
Ireland have only lost once against Scotland with that defeat coming last October in Tallaght when, despite seemingly cruising towards victory at half time, they and were handed the Alitalia Cup wooden spoon. Speaking ahead of the fixture Aston said, “We want to get off to a good start and to perform better than last year."
SCOTLAND
Josh Barlow, Sam Barlow (Halifax), Nick Broere, Callum Cockburn, Paddy Coupar, Giles Lomax (Edinburgh Eages), Neil Lowe (Hunslet), Crawford Matthews, Chad McGlame (Hull FC), David Scott (Hull KR), John Duffy (Leigh Centurions), Dave Arnot (London Skolars), Jordan Rice, Mike Stewart (Scotland Students), Andrew Henderson, Jack Howieson, Alex Szostak (Sheffield Eagles), Alex Hurst, Lee Paterson (Swinton Lions), Jack Stearman (York Knights)
IRELAND
Jonathan Cullen* (Ballynachinch Rabbitohs), Paddy Barcoe (Carlow RL), Elliot Cosgrove* (Dewsbury Rams), Liam Finn (Featherstone Rovers), Bob Beswick, Paul Handforth, James Haley (Halifax), Greg McNally (Huddersfield Giants), Callum Casey* (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Taylor (North Dublin Eagles), Paddy Boyle* (Oxford University), Ian Cross*, Aaron McCloskey* (St Helens), Ged Corcoran (Toulouse), Lemeki Vunipulu* (Treaty City Titans), Kyle Amor* (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington Wolves), Sean Carmody* (York City Knights)