Three Changes For Ireland U-20s’ Final Game

The Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PwC) to face World Rugby U-20 Championship hosts Georgia in Sunday’s 9th-10th place play-off in Tbilisi (kick-off 1pm local time/10am Irish time) has been named by head coach Peter Malone.

There are three changes for the Ireland U-20s’ final match of the campaign, with Garryowen centre David McCarthy, who was an influential replacement against Samoa the last day, the only new inclusion in the back-line.

Dublin University’s Charlie Connolly returns at tighthead prop for his tenth Ireland U-20 cap, while John Foley of Shannon gets the nod at blindside flanker. Gavin Coombes reverts to a bench which includes Instonians flyer Mark Keane who made his U-20 debut on Tuesday.

Ahead of the play-off clash in Tbilisi, which will be broadcast live on eir Sport 2 and www.worldrugby.org in certain countries, Malone said: “It’s been a tough tournament for us with injuries taking their toll, but the players have all rallied together and it was a good result last time out against Samoa, so we’ll look to carry the positives from that game into the match tomorrow.

“The Georgians are going to be big and powerful, so the players know that they’re going to have to front up and be ready for that battle.

“There’s set to be a good crowd at the stadium, and Georgian fans are a passionate bunch, so it should make for a great atmosphere and hopefully a great match.”

IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v Georgia Under-20s, 2017 World Rugby U-20 Championship 9th-10th Place Play-Off, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, June 18, kick-off 1pm local time/10am Irish time):

15. Alan Tynan (Young Munster/Munster)
14. Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster)
13. Gavin Mullin (UCD/Leinster)
12. David McCarthy (Garryowen/Munster)
11. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9. Jack Stafford (Shannon/Munster)
1. Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster)
2. Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster)
3. Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)
5. Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. John Foley (Shannon/Munster)
7. Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Adam Moloney (Shannon/Munster)
17. Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)
21. Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)
23. Mark Keane (Instonians/Ulster)

IRELAND U-20s’ World Rugby Championship Fixtures/Results: 

Pool B –

Ireland 21 Italy 22 – Match Report
Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi, Wednesday, May 31

Ireland 28 Scotland 32 – Match Report
Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi, Sunday, June 4

Ireland 3 New Zealand 69 – Match Report
Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi, Thursday, June 8

9th-12th Place Play-Off –
Ireland 52 Samoa 26 – Match Report
Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, Tuesday, June 13

9th-10th Place Play-Off –
Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Sunday, June 18, 1pm local time/10am Irish time

2017 World Rugby U-20 Championship – Full Fixtures/Results/Pools