Emerging Ireland side named for second game in South Africa

The Emerging Ireland side to face Western Force in the second game of the three-match tour of South Africa on Sunday afternoon has been named.

The tourists opened the series with a 36-24 victory over The Pumas on Wednesday and head Coach Simon Easterby has freshened up the matchday squad for Sunday's game in Bloemfontein.

Captain Alex Kendellen is one of two players retained in the starting pack against the Australian side and is joined in the back row by Sean Jansen and Alex Soroka.

Cormac Izuchukwu, a try-scorer on Wednesday afternoon, shifts to second row alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh, while another try-scorer from the opening game, hooker Gus McCarthy, starts in a new-look front row alongside Alex Usanov and Ronan Foxe who all featured as second half replacements last time out.

In the backline, Sam Prendergast retains his place at out-half and he will partner scrum-half Ethan Coughlan.

Sean O’Brien shifts to left wing in a back three which will see first appearances for fullback Andrew Osborne and Ireland Sevens Olympian Chay Mullins who starts on the right wing, while Jude Postlethwaite forms a new midfield combination alongside Hugh Cooney.

Jack Aungier, who started in the Pumas win, will be joined by hooker Danny Sheahan and tight-head prop Scott Wilson on a bench which again includes Evan O’Connell.

Sean Edogbo provides back row cover and the Munster man is joined for the first time by Leinster half-back duo and Charlie Tector, who are set for their first appearances of the Tour, and Connacht's Hugh Gavin who started last time out.

Looking ahead to the game at Toyota Stadium, Easterby said: "The squad has really embraced the opportunity to represent their country since our arrival in South Africa and we are expecting