The Ireland Under-20s, sponsored by PwC, begin their World Rugby U-20 Championship campaign against Argentina on Tuesday, and head coach Nigel Carolan has selected a strong team for the Pool C opener in Parma (kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time, live on TG4).
Joey Carbery will make his first start after four appearances off the bench during the Under-20 RBS 6 Nations. He takes over the out-half role vacated by his UCD and Leinster colleague Ross Byrne, who misses the tournament due to a back injury, with captain Nick McCarthy winning his 16th cap at scrum half
Carbery’s inclusion is one of two changes to the back-line that started Ireland’s last competitive game away to Scotland in March. Ciaran Gaffney picked up an ankle injury during the Captain’s Run so, in a late switch, Jacob Stockdale will start on the right wing with Fergal Cleary added to the bench.
Up front, there are two alterations with prop Oisin Heffernan (15 caps) and flanker Rory Moloney (9 caps) – two players who gained experience in last summer’s Junior World Championship in New Zealand – both earning starting spots.
Charlie Rock and fellow uncapped half-back Tomás Quinlan, Byrne’s replacement in the squad, could make their Ireland U-20 debuts off the bench, while fit-again hooker Sean McNulty, who played in the 2014 U-20 RBS 6 Nations, is back in the matchday squad.
Seven of the extended squad have previous U-20 Championship experience having played in the 2014 competition where Ireland finished fourth overall – Billy Dardis, Gaffney, Heffernan, skipper McCarthy, Moloney, Josh Murphy and Garry Ringrose.
Speaking ahead of the opening game which will be broadcast live on TG4, centre Ringrose said: “Argentina up first, they’ll be a physical side like any Argentinian team, very set piece orientated. It’s a huge challenge and we’re not going to look too far ahead (to Scotland and New Zealand).
“We’re just focusing on Argentina and hopefully we can get the ball rolling on Tuesday. If we get a good start similar to the Six Nations, hopefully we’ve learnt from the Six Nations and can carry on from there.”
IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Argentina Under-20s, 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool C, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Tuesday, June 2, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time):
15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Jacob Stockdale (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
10. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
1. Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster)
4. David O’Connor (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
7. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
Replacements:
16. Sean McNulty (UCD/Leinster)
17. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
18. Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
21. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
22. Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
23. Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
* Denotes uncapped player at international Under-20 level
WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP POOLS –
POOL A – England, France, Wales, Japan
POOL B – South Africa, Australia, Samoa, Italy
POOL C – New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina, Scotland
IRELAND U-20 FIXTURES:
Ireland Under-20s v Argentina Under-20s, Parma, Tuesday, June 2, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time (live on TG4)
Ireland Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s, Calvisano, Saturday, June 6, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time (live on TG4)
New Zealand Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Viadana, Wednesday, June 10, kick-off 8.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time (live on TG4)
Match Day 4: Play-offs and semi-finals, Monday, June 15
Match Day 5: Play-offs and final, Saturday, June 20
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