Ireland Under-20 captain Gus McCarthy is pictured leading out the team against Wales in Colwyn Bay last Friday ©INPHO/Tom Maher
The sold-out signs are up at Musgrave Park as the Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) look to make home advantage count against France in the second round of the U-20 Six Nations.
Friday, February 10 –
IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st) v FRANCE UNDER-20s (3rd), Musgrave Park, 8pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC iPlayer/L’Equipe TV)
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Richie Murphy has made just one change to the team that beat Wales 44-27. Terenure College’s Henry McErlean, who made a big impact off the bench last week, comes in at full-back.
UCD hooker Gus McCarthy once again captains the team from the front row alongside George Hadden and Paddy McCarthy. Club-mates Diarmuid Mangan and Conor O’Tighearnaigh continue their second row partnership.
James McNabney, Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson, who was the player-of-the-match in Colwyn Bay, make up the back row for the second match running.
McErlean comes into the back-three alongside James Nicholson, who touched down twice against the Welsh, and Hugh Gavin. Hugh Cooney and John Devine combine again in midfield, with Leinster duo Sam Prendergast and Fintan Gunne retained at half-back.
Speaking ahead of the mouth-watering clash in Cork, Murphy said: “We were pleased to open the Six Nations with a bonus point win away from home, but we know there are areas of improvement for us heading into Friday night.
“We have put the head down in Cork this week and are hugely excited to get back to Musgrave Park and play in front of another big home crowd.”
Meanwhile, France U-20 boss Sébastien Calvet has made seven changes to the side that squeezed past Italy on a 28-27 scoreline in Treviso. Émilien Gailleton and Louis Bielle-Biarrey bolster the back-line.
The pair were both in Top 14 action last weekend for Pau and Bordeaux-Bègles respectively, having trained recently with the French squad squad before the Guinness Six Nations.
Gailleton’s return to U-20 international action sees captain Nicolas Depoortère move to outside centre, with Bielle-Biarrey’s inclusion meaning a switch to the right wing for Théo Attissogbe, another of the Pau contigent.
Léo Carbonneau is brought in to make up an all-Brive half-back pairing with Tom Raffy, while there are first Championship starts for Marko Gazzotti and La Rochelle’s Oscar Jegou in the back row.
Pau’s Hugo Auradou joins forces with Brent Liufau in the engine room, and La Rochelle loosehead Louis Penverne gets the nod in the front row, replacing Hugo Parrou.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
IRELAND U-20: Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster); James Nicholson (UCD RFC/Leinster), 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), Rory Telfer (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).
FRANCE U-20: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux-Bègles); Théo Attissogbe (Section Paloise), Nicolas Depoortere (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Émilien Gailleton (Section Paloise), Enzo Benmegal (Racing 92); Tom Raffy (CA Brive), Léo Carbonneau (CA Brive); Louis Penverne (Stade Rochelais), Barnabé Massa (FC Grenoble Rugby), Zaccharie Affane (Union Bordeaux-Bègles), Hugo Auradou (Section Paloise), Brent Liufau (Section Paloise), Oscar Jegou (Stade Rochelais), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier HR), Marko Gazzotti (FC Grenoble Rugby).
Replacements: Thomas Lacombre (Stade Toulousain), Luca Tabarot (Montpellier HR), Maïno Pakihivatau (SU Agen), Bastien Chinarro (USA Perpignan), Mathis Castro Ferreira (Stade Toulousain), Hugo Reus (Stade Rochelais), Arthur Mathiron (Lyon OU), Mathis Ferté (CA Brive).
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Ben Blain (Scotland)
Television Match Official: David Rose (England)
The game is live on RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on the BBC iPlayer.
Pre-Match Quotes – Willie Faloon (Ireland U-20s): “I suppose in comparing to last year they are, even in the back five they are that bit bigger. France, I suppose, aren’t going to be any smaller than we are, so you’re still going to have to deal with that big physical threat.
“It’s still important that we’re playing the right options, that we are smart…like I think, with rugby, it’s the team that wants it more and really stands up to that physical test.
“It’s still important that we are looking for that best space and playing it early.”
Sébastien Calvet (France U-20s): “The group has seen the arrival of some important reinforcements with five players who played last weekend in the Top 14.
“We are all confident and aware that we will have to raise our levels. This team composition marks the end of a tough first block with trips to Italy and Ireland. We need to learn the lessons of our game in Treviso quickly to meet the Irish challenge.”
Opta Facts – Ireland Under-20s v France Under-20s:
– Ireland have alternated between wins and losses in their last nine Under-20 Six Nations matches against France, winning five and losing four in that period
– They have not lost to France on home soil since February 2011 (38-13), which was their only ever home loss to them in the U-20 Championship
– Ireland have won 17 of their last 19 games in the Under-20 Six Nations (L2), including each of their last six. However, they have led at half-time just three times in their last nine matches in the Championship
– Ireland have won each of their last eight home games in the U-20 Six Nations, scoring 30-plus points in each of those games and conceding just five or fewer in two of their last three. It is their longest ever winning run at home in the Championship
– France have won nine of their last 10 games in the U-20 Six Nations (L1), including each of their last four and have led at half time in each of their last 11. However, they have conceded two-plus tries in each of their last nine
– France have won each of their last four away games in the U-20 Six Nations, however, they have never won five consecutive away games in the Championship. Their most recent win came by just a single-point margin (28-27 v Italy in round 1)
– Ireland were the only team with an average attacking ruck speed of under three seconds in the opening round of this year’s U-20 Six Nations (2.81s), while France were the only team with a 100% ruck success rate last time out (41/41)
– France had the highest tackle success rate of any team in the opening round of this year’s U-20 Six Nations (94%), and were one of just two sides to be successful with 100% of their 22 exit attempts last time out (also Italy)
– France had the highest tackle evasion rate of any side in the opening round of this year’s U-20 Six Nations (28%) and also committed three-plus opposition tacklers from a greater percentage of their carries than any other team last time out (20%)
– Ireland’s Sam Prendergast was one of four players to provide two try assists during the opening round of this year’s U-20 Six Nations. Team-mate John Devine was also one of just four players to provide two-plus break assists passes last time out (2)
– France duo Louis Penverne (22) and Brent Liufau (21) made more tackles than any other players in the opening round of this year’s U20 Six Nations, while team-mate Barnabe Massa hit more defensive rucks than any other player last time out (13)
Recent Meetings –
2021: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 28 France U-20s 34, Cardiff Arms Park
2022: Under-20 Six Nations: France U-20s 16 Ireland U-20s 17, Stade Maurice David, Aix-en-Provence; Under-20 Six Nations Summer Series: France U-20s 42 Ireland U-20s 21, Payanini Rugby Centre, Verona
Support the Ireland U-20s on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen, #IREvFRA and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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