Back rower James McNabney, a try scorer against Wales twelve months ago, is one of the returning Ireland Under-20 players from last season ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Following a busy build-up period which included three warm-up matches, the Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) are back in competitive action in tonight’s U-20 Six Nations opener against Wales in Colwyn Bay.
Friday, February 3 –
WALES UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Stadiwm CSM, 7pm (live Virgin Media Two/BBC iPlayer/S4C)
Team News: UCD hooker Gus McCarthy captains Ireland as they begin the 2023 Championship against the Welsh, with head coach Richie Murphy able to start three players who featured during last year’s Grand Slam-winning campaign.
Leinster duo Diarmuid Mangan and Conor O’Tighearnaigh start in the second row, while Ulster back rower James McNabney is named at blindside flanker.
Additionally, three players – Sam Prendergast, George Hadden, and Harry West – played for Ireland during the Under-20 Summer Series in Italy last year, ensuring Murphy’s squad contains valuable experience heading into this first round clash.
Prendergast, the younger brother of Ireland senior international Cian, forms a half-back pairing with Fintan Gunne, a recent debutant for Terenure College in the Energia All-Ireland League.
Hugh Cooney and John Devine pair up together the midfield, while James Nicholson, La Rochelle recruit Ike Anagu and Hugh Gavin combine in the back-three.
Up front, Clontarf youngster Hadden is joined in the front row by skipper McCarthy and Paddy McCarthy, the younger brother of Ireland second row Joe.
Mangan and O’Tighearnaigh join forces in the engine room, with McNabney and Munster duo Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson in the back row.
On the bench, Danny Sheahan, George Morris, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O’Connell and Jacob Sheahan provide the reinforcements in the pack, and backs Oscar Cawley, West and Henry McErlean complete the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, Dragons back rower Ryan Woodman will captain a Wales side with seven debutants in the pack. Byron Hayward is in his second stint as Wales U-20 head coach.
The back-line has three players returning from the U-20 Summer Series squad – Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett, and Ospreys winger Harri Houston and out-half Dan Edwards.
Woodman is joined in the back row by Luca Giannini and Huw Davies, while Liam Edwards and Jonny Green will pack down behind a front row made up of Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Tomas Pritchard and Dragons hooker Sam Scarfe.
Edwards’ half-back partner is Scarlets prospect Archie Hughes, Harri Ackerman and Louie Hennessey start in the centre, and the Ospreys’ Llien Morgan completes the starting XV, joining Winnett and Houston in the back-three.
WALES U-20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Llien Morgan (Ospreys), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Harri Ackerman (Dragons), Harri Houston (Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Archie Hughes (Scarlets); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), Sam Scarfe (Dragons), Tomas Pritchard (Scarlets), Liam Edwards (Ospreys), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Ryan Woodman (Dragons) (capt), Luca Giannini (Scarlets), Huw Davies (Sale Sharks).
Replacements: Isaac Young (Scarlets), Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), Owain Evans (RGC), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff), Harri Williams (Scarlets), Harrison James (Cardiff), Tom Florence (Ospreys).
IRELAND U-20: James Nicholson (UCD RFC/Leinster); Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby), Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster), John Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster); George Hadden (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent RFC/Munster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster).
Replacements: Danny Sheahan (UCC RFC/Munster), George Morris (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Fiachna Barrett (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC/Munster), Oscar Cawley (Naas RFC/Leinster), Harry West (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster).
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben Blain (Scotland), Benoit Rousselet (France)
Television Match Official: Thomas Charabas (France)
The game is live on Virgin Media Two in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on the BBC iPlayer and S4C.
Pre-Match Quotes – Richie Murphy (Ireland U-20s): “We are excited to get the Six Nations underway in Wales on Friday night, following a good period of preparation for the group.
“The squad have come together well over the last couple of weeks, gelling both on and off the pitch, and we have now turned the focus this week to performance.”
Byron Hayward (Wales U-20s): “Ireland will be a massive challenge as they are Grand Slam champions. Irish Rugby is flourishing at the moment and has been for a number of years.
“But it is a challenge we are looking forward to. The reason you are in sport is because you want to play against the best and we face the best team first up.
“The boys did play some exceptional rugby against Poland (in our warm-up game) and hopefully that translates to a few more ticket sales. I’ve no doubt the boys will be competitive this year and we are in a far better place than we were 12 months ago.”
Opta Facts – Wales Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s:
– Ireland have won each of their last four matches against Wales in the U-20 Six Nations after losing six in a row against them previously. They have prevented the Welsh from scoring a single first-half point in either of their last two meetings
– Wales have won just two of their last seven games in Wales in the U-20 Six Nations (L5) and have lost each of their last two. However, they have scored two-plus tries in each of their last four such fixtures
– Wales have won just one of their last four opening round fixtures (L3) after winning six in a row previously. They have scored just 10 points or fewer in each of their three losses during that period, in addition to conceding an average of 34 points per game
– Ireland have won 16 of their last 18 games in the U-20 Six Nations, including each of their last five by an average margin of 29 points. However, each of their last two defeats in the competition have come on Welsh soil (v England and France in 2021)
– Ireland have won 12 of their previous 15 opening round games in the U-20 Six Nations (L3), including each of their last four. Their largest ever opening day win came last year, when they beat the Welsh by a margin of 48 points (53-5)
– Only France (111) made more kicks in play than Wales (95) during last year’s U-20 Six Nations. Wales gained 28 metres per kick on average, the second most of any team (France, 31) while Ireland had the lowest average gain from their kicks (22)
– Ireland (95%) and Wales (87%) were the two sides with the highest lineout success rates in last year’s U-20 Six Nations, and also had the highest scrum success rates in the Championship (Ireland – 97%, Wales – 95%)
– Ireland averaged the most possession (55%) and the second highest percentage of territory (52%) of any team in last year’s U-20 Six Nations, while Wales had the second lowest rate of territory in the Championship last year (47%)
– Oli Andrew had the highest average carry distance of any Welsh player in last year’s U-20 Six Nations (13.6m/carry) and also made the most line breaks of any Wales player in the Championship in 2022 (4)
– Conor O’Tighearnaigh claimed the second most lineout takes (21) and completed the third most tackles (49) of any Ireland player in last year’s U-20 Six Nations. He also made the second most dominant tackles of any Ireland player last year (4)
Recent Meetings –
2020: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 36 Wales U-20s 22, Irish Independent Park
2021: Under-20 Six Nations: Wales U-20s 12 Ireland U-20s 40, Cardiff Arms Park
2022: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 53 Wales U-20s 5, Musgrave Park
Support the Ireland U-20s on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen, #WALvIRE and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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