Ireland game a trip into the unknown

The Ireland under-21s take a relative step into the unknown in the Sydney Showgrounds tomorrow (kick-off 3 p.m. local, 6 a.m. Irish) against their English counterparts in what will be the second instalment of a four-match opening day programme to the annual Sanzar Under-21 tournament.

Although eight of their starting line-up have enjoyed regular first division combat in the AIL, such experience is relative when set against the lesser exposure to first team rugby of England's opening selection. All bar one of them are drawn from first division clubs and the exception, flanker Ian Clarke, was a regular starter in Leeds' promotion winning team.

Most of the imbalances would still apply, such as England's greater numbers to choose from, and this has been compounded by Ireland's truncated Six Nations campaign. Ireland have reputedly trained well since coming together for a warm-up game in France while the absence through injury of Gordon D'Arcy and Johnny O'Connor has been offset by the return from injury of Jeremy Staunton.

England are missing a number of their championship outfit, Clive Woodward having called up quick outside backs Mike Stephenson and Tom Voyce for England's north American tour, while the Andy Goode, Lewis Deacon and John Dawson have been withdrawn. Even so, though, it is an unknown quantity, as fifth seeds England should start favourites over the eighth-seeded team.

Ireland continue their schedule against Argentina in Saturday's second quartet of pool matches and complete their pool against tournament top seeds New Zealand in tomorrow week's concluding batch of first phase games. The winners are once again expected to come from the big three in the southern hemisphere although France, as ever, could be dark horses in their pool with Australia, South Africa and a Samoan side who look to have drawn the short straw.