Results-wise it has been an up-and-down Under-20 Six Nations tournament so far for Ireland and Scotland with one win apiece, but there is still plenty to play for in the concluding two rounds as both sides build towards this summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship in France.
2018 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, March 9
IRELAND UNDER-20s (4th) v SCOTLAND UNDER-20s (5th), Donnybrook, 7.15pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only))
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Noel McNamara has made seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that was edged out by Wales in a thrilling 11-try clash at Donnybrook two weeks ago.
Props James French and Tom O’Toole are set for their first starts of the Championship, having both made three appearances from the bench to date. They link up with Lansdowne hooker Ronan Kelleher who now has ten Ireland U-20 caps to his name.
Ulster Academy starlet Matthew Dalton returns from a stint with the province’s senior squad to replace the injured Cormac Daly (shoulder), combining with Jack Dunne in the second row. Dalton has made five GUINNESS PRO14 appearances for Ulster.
There is also a change in the back row as Dalton’s Ulster Academy colleague Joe Dunleavy comes in to win his first Ireland U-20 cap, alongside Matthew Agnew and Jack O’Sullivan, the UCC number 8 who scored two tries in a man-of-the-match performance against Wales.
In the back-line, Clontarf scrum half Hugh O’Sullivan gains his second start of the campaign. He teams up at half-back with Harry Byrne who has kicked 26 points so far. Captain Tommy O’Brien reverts from the wing to centre where he partners Angus Curtis in a potent midfield pairing.
There are first Under-20 Six Nations starts for Ulster wingers Mark Keane and Angus Kernohan who will line out with Dublin University clubman Michael Silvester in the back-three. Wanderers’ Eoghan Clarke is the reserve hooker.
The Ireland Under-20s’ home matches at Donnybrook are again sponsored by Electric Ireland, and tonight’s round 4 fixture will be broadcast live on RTE Two, with coverage beginning at 7pm. Ireland U-20 tickets are available on www.ticketmaster.ie.
Meanwhile, Scotland Under-20 head coach Stevie Scott has made two changes to the side that secured a famous 24-17 comeback victory over England at Myreside a fortnight ago.
Back rower Guy Graham and centre Callum McLelland drop out of the starting XV due to injury, with Rory Darge and Northampton Saints’ Fraser Strachan both promoted from the bench. Stewart’s Melville College product Connor Boyle is named among the replacements, as is Mark New who returns to the matchday 23 after starting in the 36-3 first round loss to Wales.
Full-back Paddy Dewhirst is once again partnered by Glasgow Hawks wing duo Rory McMichael and Kyle Rowe, while vice-captain Stafford McDowall is joined in midfield by Fraser Strachan, who makes his first start of the tournament. Ross Thompson and Charlie Chapman, a member of the Gloucester Academy, continue at half-back.
An unchanged tight five sees captain Robbie Smith pack down alongside the impressive Edinburgh Accies pair Shaun Gunn and Finlay Richardson in the front row, with Ewan Johnson and Watsonians’ Jamie Hodgson behind them. Melrose clubman Darge makes his first start of the campaign at openside flanker, alongside Martin Hughes and number 8 Devante Onojaife.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
IRELAND U-20: Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster); Angus Kernohan (Ballymena/Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Angus Curtis (Queen’s University/Ulster), Mark Keane (Queen’s University/Ulster); Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf/Leinster); James French (UCC/Munster), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Banbridge/Ulster), Matthew Dalton (Malone/Ulster), Jack Dunne (Dublin University/Leinster), Joe Dunleavy (Malone/Ulster), Matthew Agnew (Ballymena/Ulster), Jack O’Sullivan (UCC/Munster).
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke (Wanderers/Leinster), Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster), Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Ronan Foley (UCD/Leinster), Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster), Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster).
SCOTLAND U-20: Paddy Dewhirst (Ayr); Rory McMichael (Glasgow Hawks), Fraser Strachan (Northampton Saints), Stafford McDowall (Ayr), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Hawks); Ross Thompson (Glasgow Hawks), Charlie Chapman (Gloucester); Shaun Gunn (Edinburgh Accies), Robbie Smith (Ayr) (capt), Finlay Richardson (Edinburgh Accies), Ewan Johnson (Racing 92), Jamie Hodgson (Watsonians), Martin Hughes (Heriot’s), Rory Darge (Melrose), Devante Onojaife (Northampton Saints).
Replacements: Bradley Clements (Ealing), Nathan McBeth (Lions), Murphy Walker (Strathallan School), Marshall Sykes (St. Joseph’s College/Northampton Saints), Connor Boyle (Stewart’s Melville College), Kaleem Barreto (Marr), Mark New (Glasgow Hawks), Logan Trotter (Stirling County).
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant Referees: Cyril Lafond, Arnaud Blondel (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 2/9; Draw: 22/1; Scotland U-20s to win: 16/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Noel McNamara (Ireland U-20s): “It’s set to be another good challenge for the players on Friday. Everyone was disappointed with the result against Wales, so it’s an opportunity to finish our time in Donnybrook on a positive note
.
“We’ve made some changes for Friday night and I know the management team are looking forward to seeing those players go out and show what they can do.
“Scotland come to Dublin off the back of a good win over England, so they will be full of confidence. The games between ourselves and Scotland have been close affairs over the last few seasons, so we’re expecting another tough encounter this week.”
Stevie Scott (Scotland U-20s): “The boys will have taken a lot from the England win. It was a big result for us and one that the squad will remember for a long time. Ireland is another tough fixture. We’re on the road which always adds another challenge, but they certainly won’t take us lightly.
“The squad have trained hard this week and it’s a game we’re looking forward to. It’s important that we get back out there and put in another strong performance.”
Recent Meetings –
2015: U-20 Six Nations: Scotland U-20s 17 Ireland U-20s 10, Netherdale; World Rugby U-20 Championship Pool C: Ireland U-20s 24 Scotland U-20s 20, Stadio San Michele, Calvisano; World Rugby U-20 Championship – 7th/8th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 17 Scotland U-20s 9, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
2016: U-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 26 Scotland U-20s 18, Donnybrook
2017: U-20 Six Nations: Scotland U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 20, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld; World Rugby U-20 Championship Pool B: Ireland U-20s 28 Scotland U-20s 32, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi
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