The St. Patrick’s Day double header at Donnybrook begins with the Ireland Under-20s looking to end their Six Nations campaign on a high by beating an English side that will lift the trophy no matter what the result.
2017 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, March 17
IRELAND UNDER-20s (3rd) v ENGLAND UNDER-20s (1st), Donnybrook, 6pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only)/Sky Sports Mix)
Team News: Head coach Nigel Carolan has named the Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, to face unbeaten England at Donnybrook in the U-20 Six Nations on Friday evening.
There are two changes to the side that took on Wales in Colwyn Bay last Saturday. Gavin Mullin, son of former Ireland senior star Brendan Mullin, returns from injury to wear the number 13 jersey and Munster Academy member John Foley comes in at blindside flanker.
In the backs, Jonny Stewart and Bill Johnston, who has kicked 24 points in his last two games, continue their half-back partnership, and Skerries native Ciaran Frawley will line up at inside centre alongside Mullin.
The back-three combination again sees captain Calvin Nash, the scorer of Ireland’s first try against Wales, on the left wing with Tommy O’Brien on the opposite flank and Jordan Larmour at full-back.
The front row of Joey Conway, Tadgh McElroy and Charlie Connolly will start together for the fourth match in a row. Lansdowne hooker McElroy is the joint-second top try scorer in the Championship with three touchdowns.
Fineen Wycherley and Oisin Dowling get the nod as the second row pairing for the fourth time in five games, while Foley, who made his Munster bow against the Maori All Blacks in November, will win his first Ireland U-20 cap in the back row alongside Paul Boyle, the scorer of two tries so far, and number 8 Caelan Doris.
Speaking ahead of the RTE Two-televised St. Patrick’s Day fixture, Carolan said: “It was disappointing to come back from Wales without the win last weekend, but unfortunately some things just didn’t work out for us on the night. The players have dusted themselves down from that game and are now looking forward to Friday.
“England are coming to town with the title in the bag, but the players really want to finish the campaign on a positive note, so we’re confident that we can put in a big performance in front of a home crowd on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Meanwhile, the England Under-20 coaches have made four changes to their starting line-up as they aim for their country’s first U-20 Six Nations Grand Slam since 2011.
Sam Aspland-Robinson, Tom Curry and Nick Isiekwe return to the side after missing the 33-5 bonus point victory over Scotland last week, while Gloucester hooker Henry Walker earns his first start.
The 18-year old Sale Sharks twins, Tom and Ben Curry, start together for the first time for the England U-20s, taking their place in the back row alongside captain Zach Mercer. Worcester Warriors forwards Joseph Morris and Justin Clegg also return and are listed among the replacements.
Match Ticket Information: Limited tickets for the Under-20s & Women’s Donnybrook double header are available to buy online here.
IRELAND U-20: Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Gavin Mullin (UCD/Leinster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (capt); Bill Johnston (Garryowen/Munster), Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster); Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster), Tadgh McElroy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster), Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster), John Foley (Shannon/Munster), Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster), Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/Leinster), Matthew Burke (Corinthians/Connacht), Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster), Jack Stafford (Shannon/Munster), Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster), Colm Hogan (Dublin University/Munster).
ENGLAND U-20: Tom Parton (London Irish); Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish), Dominic Morris (Saracens), Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins); Max Malins (Saracens), Harry Randall (Gloucester); Ollie Dawe (Bristol), Henry Walker (Gloucester), Ciaran Knight (Gloucester), Jack Nay (Saracens), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Zach Mercer (Bath) (capt).
Replacements: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens), Joseph Morris (Worcester Warriors), Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish), Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie).
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant Referees: Tual Trainini, Stephane Boyer (both France)
Television Match Official: Arnaud Blondel (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 6/1; Draw: 30/1; England U-20s to win: 1/10
Pre-Match Quotes – Ciaran Frawley (Ireland U-20s): “I feel that this game is a huge opportunity. Every game is an opportunity, but this one especially. It’s a home game against a very good opposition. If you perform well, it shows you’re up to the standard, definitely, for this level. If we get a good back-line performance out of this, and if we perform well, we’d be looking at a solid back-line.
“We still want to make an impression as well. We haven’t played to our full potential yet, but I really believe that we can. We can step it up another notch, and on Paddy’s Day especially. To play England at home, with the home crowd there, I really think that it would be a bit of a boost anyway, and it’ll bring a bit more of a performance out of us.
“Obviously with the rivalry, it goes back years now. Especially at home on Paddy’s Day, there’s no better occasion to be playing in. It’ll be really good to even perform against England, they’re a very good side.
“They’ve had a try-scoring bonus point in every single game they’ve played. There’s a lot to expect from them. Even just a good performance, that’s all we’re looking for, and just put it up to them really.”
Ian Vass (England U-20s): “We have been working hard on making sure the players concentrate on how they perform and don’t focus too much on the occasion.
“It’s important we prepare ourselves mentally and physically like we have previously in the tournament and hopefully the result will take care of itself. Scotland was a stern test for us but we came through it positively and we know facing Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day will be another massive challenge.”
Pre-Match Links –
In Pics: Ireland Under-20s’ Captain’s Run
In Touch: March Edition Out Now
Inside Pass – The Welsh Weekend
Three-Try First Half Inspires Ireland U-20s’ Third Win
Ireland U-20s Lose To Wales In Epic Eight-Try Encounter
Match Facts –
– Ireland’s six-match winning run in the U-20 Six Nations came to an end against Wales in Colwyn Bay in round 4
– Ireland have scored exactly 27 points with three tries, three conversions and two penalties in each of the last three rounds
– The Ireland Under-20s have won their last three games at Donnybrook since Wales won there in round 1 last year
– England have already secured their sixth U-20 Six Nations Championship but are going for their first Grand Slam since 2011
– The England Under-20s have recorded four maximum point victories in their 2017 Six Nations campaign so far, extending their winning run to nine games at this level
– England have had three previous opportunities to win an U-20 Grand Slam and have won their decisive round 5 encounter every time
– England’s only defeat in their last five fixtures with Ireland was 26-20 at Newcastle in round 3 last year. The two then went on to meet in the final of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Manchester last June with England victorious, 45-21
– Ireland have faced an opponent going for a Grand Slam in round 5 three times before and lost them all (to England in 2008 and 2011 and to France in 2014)
Recent Meetings –
2015: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Ireland U-20s 14 England U-20s 19, Donnybrook
2016: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: England U-20s 20 Ireland U-20s 26, Kingston Park, Newcastle; World Rugby U-20 Championship Final: England U-20s 45 Ireland U-20s 21, AJ Bell Stadium, Salford
Support the Ireland U-20s on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #FutureIsGreen, #IREvENG and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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