Ireland are due a win over France at Under-20 level, having lost the last three encounters. Nigel Carolan’s current crop will look to make the most of home advantage tonight, with the Ireland U-20s losing just one of their last eight outings at Dubarry Park.
2015 UNDER-20 RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 13
IRELAND UNDER-20s (2nd) v FRANCE UNDER-20s (1st), Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC, 7.05pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only))
Team News: The Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, has been named by head coach Nigel Carolan ahead of tonight’s U-20 RBS 6 Nations showdown with France at Dubarry Park.
There are two changes to the back-line from the Championship opener last Friday when the Ireland Under-20s overcame their Italian counterparts 47-15 in Biella..
Stephen Fitzgerald, who will win his first cap at this level, is named on the left wing, replacing Greg O’Shea who picked up an injury during the Italian game.
Sam Arnold makes his first start of the tournament, coming in to partner Garry Ringrose in the centre, with Fergal Cleary named among the replacements.
Speaking about the crunch clash with France, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two, Carolan said: “It was great to get the tournament off to a winning start. We are looking forward to playing the French side at home. The guys have been working very hard, but we have no doubt we have a tough battle on our hands against a strong, physical side.”
Stand tickets are virtually sold out, so if you want to be sure of a reserved seat, it is best to purchase tickets in advance. However, tickets will be on sale at the turnstiles on match night. There has been exceptional demand for the pre-match function and it is totally sold out.
Ticket prices – Stand €;20; Ground/Terrace €;15; OAP/Student €;10; Family €;30 (admits 2 adults and 2 children to terrace). Contact details are: 0861732711 or email rugby@dubarrypark.com.
Concession vouchers for Under-16s are available to schools and clubs in the region. Primary school children will be admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult, while secondary school children get in for half-price: €;5.
Present your voucher at the ticket box and you could win an Ireland jersey signed by Robbie Henshaw! The winner’s name will be drawn at half-time. If your school or club wishes to get a supply of the concession vouchers, contact Geraldine at 0861732711.
Meanwhile, French Under-20 boss Fabien Pelous has made four changes in personnel – three of them up front – for the round 2 trip to Athlone.
Elliot Roudil, who played for La Rochelle against Connacht in the European Challenge Cup, replaces Leo Ghirard at outside centre.
There are two straight swaps in the front row as Camille Chat and Quentin make way for Julien Marchand and Michaël Simutoga at hooker and tighthead prop respectively, while Dax’s Cyril Cazeaux will start in the second row.
Pelous’ youngsters launched their title defence with a runaway 47-6 victory over Scotland in Gueugnon. The tries were shared out by Thomas Ramos, Sékou Macalou, Lucas Blanc, Arthur Bonneval, Simutoga, Martin Devergie and Francois Fontaine.
U-20 RBS 6 Nations Fixtures/Results
IRELAND U-20: Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster); Jack Owens (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster); Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (capt); Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster), Zack McCall (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster), Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster), David O’Connor (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Alex Thompson (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster), Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht), Lorcan Dow (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster).
Replacements: Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster), Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht), Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht), Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jack Cullen (Shannon/Munster), Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster), Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster).
FRANCE U-20: Thomas Ramos (Toulouse); Arthur Bonneval (Toulouse), Elliot Roudil (La Rochelle), Francois Fontaine (Clermont Auvergne), Lucas Blanc (Bordeaux-Bègles); Lucas Meret (Bordeaux-Bègles), Anthony Meric (Toulon); Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Michaël Simutoga (Clermont Auvergne), Tristan Labouteley (Montpellier), Cyril Cazeaux (Dax), Sékou Macalou (Massy), Lucas Bachelier (Perpignan) (capt), Fabien Sanconnié (Brive).
Replacements: Camille Chat (Racing Metro 92), Thibault Estorge (Clermont Auvergne), Quentin Bethune (Agen), Julien Delannoy (Montpellier), Martin Devergie (Montpellier), Antoine Dupont (Castres Olympique), Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), Valentin Saurs (Agen).
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Martyn Lewis, Stuart Kibble (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Paul Adams (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 4/7; Draw: 18/1; France U-20s to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Garry Ringrose (Ireland U-20s): “There is a lot of depth (in the current Irish squad) and there is an abundance of talent. If there is an injury or form drops, there is someone waiting or itching to take that starting spot. There is no one immune to being dropped.
“There is a lot of excitement and we enjoy playing together (in the back-line), trying to play as attractive a brand (of rugby) as possible, given the conditions. We are excited but we are keeping our heads down and trying to do the simple things well.
“We have our patterns and have our plays that we try and cut opposition teams open with and they change depending on the opposition with the analysis we’ve done.
“Nige does encourage us to play, to look up and play what’s in front of us as did Mike (Ruddock), in fairness. It’s just building each game, each training session, so that we are better than when we started.”
“The French are incredibly physical, big guys. They will run directly at us, try and bully us and at the same time they have the ability to play out wide and play around us. We’ve looked individually at what they are like and collectively. They are very talented, so we are going to have to bring our ‘A’ game, defensively anyway, to try and counteract that.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ringrose: We’ll Need Our ‘A’ Game To Combat ‘Physical’ French
Ireland Under-20s Prepare For French Test In Athlone
Buccaneers Justly Proud Of Their International Quartet
In Pics: Italy Under-20s 15 Ireland Under-20s 47
Ireland Under-20s Enjoy Seven-Try Triumph In Snowy Biella
Match Facts –
– The only occasion since 2009 that the Ireland Under-20s have won their opening two games in a Six Nations campaign was in 2012
– Ireland’s only defeat in Athlone in their last eight matches at this level was 16-0 to Wales in round 2 last year
– France, who claimed the Grand Slam last season, have now won their last seven Six Nations matches since Ireland beat them in Athlone, 22-5, in 2013
– France have won their last three encounters with Ireland at Under-20 level, while in the Six Nations the tally is four wins apiece
Recent Meetings –
2013: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Ireland U-20s 22 France U-20s 5, Dubarry Park; IRB Junior World Championship 5th-8th Place Play-Off: France U-20s 9 Ireland U-20s 8, Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche-sur-Yon
2014: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: France U-20s 23 Ireland U-20s 13, Stade Maurice Trélut, Tarbes; IRB Junior World Championship Pool B: France U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 13, QBE Stadium, Auckland
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