A record crowd of 8,400 will attend tonight’s Under-20 Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales, as Richie Murphy’s side run out at Virgin Media Park for the second time in a fortnight.
UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 3:
Friday, February 23 –
IRELAND UNDER-20s (2nd) v WALES UNDER-20s (4th), Virgin Media Park, 7.15pm (live RTÉ 2/BBC iPlayer/S4C)
Team News: Head coach Murphy has made four changes to the Ireland Under-20 Men’s team (sponsored by PwC) for this eagerly-awaited third round encounter with Wales in Cork.
The Ireland Under-20s opened their 2024 campaign with wins over France (37-31) and Italy (23-22), and following a down week, Murphy’s young side return to action in front of their home support on Leeside.
Murphy has selected an unchanged back-line for the RTÉ 2-televised clash, with Ben O’Connor, a try-scoring player-of-the-match last time out, Finn Treacy, and Hugo McLaughlin making up the back-three.
Wilhelm de Klerk and Hugh Gavin continue their partnership in midfield for the third game running, while Jack Murphy, who has kicked 25 points so far, and Oliver Coffey are retained at half-back.
Ben Howard from Terenure College, Ulster Academy hooker Henry Walker, and IQ Rugby recruit Patreece Bell come in for their first starts in a new front row combination. All three have appeared as replacements during the previous rounds.
The experienced Joe Hopes moves to the second row to partner Evan O’Connell, where they last started together against Fiji during last summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa.
After scoring the match-winning try against Italy earlier this month, Sean Edogbo (pictured below) earns his first start at blindside flanker, with Bryn Ward continuing at openside, and Shannon’s Luke Murphy featuring again at number 8.
Murphy has strong options among the replacements bench as Danny Sheahan, Alex Usanov, Jacob Boyd, Billy Corrigan, and the uncapped Tom Brigg provide the reinforcements up front, with backs Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton and Davy Colbert, another potential debutant, completing the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, like his Irish counterpart Murphy, Wales U-20 head coach Richard Whiffin has selected an unchanged back-line for the third consecutive game of the Championship.
Influential Ospreys number 8 Morgan Morse is rested, so Cardiff’s Lucas de la Rua moves across to pack down at the back of the Welsh scrum. There are three personnel changes up front from the 28-7 defeat away to England.
There are first starts for Scarlets loosehead Josh Morse, following six appearances off the bench, and Midlands Central tighthead Sam Scott, while Dragons’ Nick Thomas joins Jonny Green in the second row.
The rejigged back row now includes Osian Thomas from Leicester Tigers at blindside flanker. Ireland have won each of their last five matches against Wales in the U-20 Six Nations after losing six in a row against them previously.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Under-20 Six Nations Table
IRELAND U-20: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster).
Replacements: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Tom Brigg (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster).
WALES U-20: Huw Anderson (Dragons); Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Harri Ackerman (Dragons) (capt), Walker Price (Dragons); Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Ieuan Davies (Bath); Josh Morse (Scarlets), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Midlands Central), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff).
Replacements: Will Austin (Sale Sharks), Jordan Morris (Dragons), Kian Hire (Ospreys), Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale), Will Plessis (Scarlets), Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys), Harri Ford (RGC), Macs Page (Scarlets).
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France), Filippo Russo (Italy)
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Watch
The game is live on RTÉ 2 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 – Aaron Dundon (Ireland U-20s): “When we got back from the World Cup last year, one of things in debriefing was that we didn’t use our squad enough. So, we are trying to build a bit more depth in our squad, freshen it up and give a few (players) who are training well an opportunity.
“We are still building our scrum. I thought it was okay against France, but we struggled a bit against the Italians.
“It’s just giving guys an opportunity and seeing what strengths they can bring. Wales did alright in the scrum against Scotland but struggled against England. We are expecting a tough battle.
“Definitely missing tackles (against Italy), technique with a few of the players, a bit of work-rate, we weren’t working hard when we didn’t have the ball. At times not getting our space right.
“There were quite a few things but Willie Faloon, our defence coach, has been doing quite a bit of work on that since, trying to improve in that area. We’ll look to see a response in that area especially, on Friday night.”
Richard Whiffin (Wales U-20s): “Ireland have an all-court game, they move the ball outstandingly well and threaten you with the ball as well as having a good kicking game. They also possess a good aerial threat and set-piece wise you can’t switch off.
“They will cause us problems all across the field but that is nothing that we aren’t ready for, and we’re looking forward to going up against them.
“I think the back-line offers us a real dangerous threat. It would be awesome to come away with a win, every game we prepare for we aim to win. The boys have been confident going in to the two previous games and we’ll be confident going into the Ireland game.
“We know we can threaten teams and put them under pressure – it’s just the ability to do it for the full 80 (minutes). It would be great to get a scalp over in Ireland.”
Pre-Match Links –
McLaughlin Striving For 80-Minute Performance As Ireland U-20s Draw Record Cork Crowd
Dundon: We’re Trying To Build A Bit More Squad Depth
‘It’s A Great Appointment’ – Farrell On Murphy’s Move To Ulster
Recent Meetings –
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
2023: Under-20 Six Nations: Wales U-20s 27 Ireland U-20s 44, Stadiwm CSM, Colwyn Bay
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