Kelly And Wycherley Return To Ireland Under-20 Team
Head coach Nigel Carolan has named the Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, to face Wales in Saturday’s U-20 Six Nations clash at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay (kick-off 6.30pm). There are three personnel changes and two positional switches.
In the back-line, Jordan Larmour will wear the number 15 jersey, having played on the wing in the Ireland U-20s’ opening three wins over Scotland, Italy and France.
Tommy O’Brien, the try-scoring man-of-the-match against the French, moves from the centre to the right wing, and Calvin Nash will again captain the side from the opposite flank.
There is a new centre pairing as Jack Kelly returns from the shoulder injury he sustained in Scotland to join UCD’s Ciaran Frawley in midfield.
Scrum half Jonny Stewart will again partner number 10 Bill Johnston, who kicked 11 points in Ireland’s 26-25 World Rugby U-20 Championship pool win over Wales in Manchester last June.
The front row remains unchanged, with hooker Tadgh McElroy packing down with props Joey Conway and Charlie Connolly, while Fineen Wycherley, who made his Munster senior debut in Cardiff last Saturday, returns to partner Oisin Dowling in the second row.
Flanker Gavin Coombes, one of three Young Munster players in the starting line-up, will make his first start of the campaign on the blindside. Paul Boyle and number 8 Caelan Doris complete the back row.
Ahead of the RTE Two-televised round 4 match, Nigel Carolan said: “The management team are very happy with how the side is progressing and developing so far in the Championship, but there is another big test ahead of us this Saturday in Colwyn Bay.
“Wales have been going well in the competition, and despite a loss to England, they had a very big win against Scotland in the last round so they will be coming into this game full of confidence.
“We’ve had a good two week build-up to this game and had another good (training) day with the senior side last week, so for us it’s now about getting out there and putting in a performance.”
Wales U-20 v Ireland U-20 tickets are priced at £15 (seated), £10/£5 (standing). Venue Cymru – www.venuecymru.co.uk, over the counter at the box office or by calling 01492 872000; WRU – www.wru.wales/tickets or by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1881; Colwyn Leisure Centre – Terrace tickets can be bought over the counter or over the phone on 01492 577900.
IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Wales Under-20s, 2017 Under-20 Six Nations, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, Saturday, March 11, kick-off 6.30pm):
15. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
14. Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
13. Jack Kelly (Dublin University/Leinster)
12. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)
11. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (capt)
10. Bill Johnston (Garryowen/Munster)
9. Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster)
1. Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster)
2. Tadgh McElroy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
3. Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)
5. Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)
7. Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster)
17. Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
18. Matthew Burke (Corinthians/Connacht)
19. Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Marcus Rea (Queen’s University/Ulster)
21. Jack Stafford (Shannon/Munster) *
22. Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
23. Colm Hogan (Dublin University/Munster)
* Denotes uncapped player at Under-20 level
Not considered due to injury:
Cillian Gallagher, Johnny McPhillips, Jack Lyons, Gavin Mullin, Peter Cooper, Alex McHenry, Robert Lyttle
IRELAND UNDER-20 Management –
Head Coach – Nigel Carolan
Assistant Coach – Peter Malone
Scrum Coach – Conor Twomey
Team Manager – Hendrik Kruger
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Martin Kennedy
Physiotherapist – Nicholas Lalor
Performance Analyst – Jim Herring
Masseur – Gareth Rossi
Equipment and Logistics Manager – Lar Hogan
Media Officer – Sam O’Byrne
IRELAND UNDER-20s’ Six Nations Schedule:
Friday, February 3
Scotland U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 20, Broadwood Stadium, Glasgow
Friday, February 10
Italy U-20s 26 Ireland U-20s 27, Stadio Enrico Chersoni, Prato
Friday, February 24
Ireland U-20s 27 France U-20s 22, Donnybrook Stadium
Saturday, March 11
Wales U-20s v Ireland U-20s, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, 6.30pm
Friday, March 17
Ireland U-20s v England U-20s, Donnybrook Stadium, 6pm
Tickets are available for the Ireland Under-20s’ home match against England at Donnybrook on St. Patrick’s Day via www.ticketmaster.ie.