Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s

Richie Murphy’s coaching reign with the Ireland Under-20s begins in Cardiff where they face Scotland in the first game of an exciting opening day triple header.

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2021 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, June 19

SCOTLAND UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Cardiff Arms Park, 2pm (live RTÉ One & Player/NI, UK and other locations: YouTube/Facebook Live)

Team News: Munster back rower Alex Kendellen captains the Ireland Under-20s, sponsored by PwC, for this first round encounter at Cardiff Arms Park.

Kendellen is one of five players included in Murphy’s matchday 26 – three extra players can be named on the replacements bench due to the condensed nature of the tournament – who made their Guinness PRO14 debuts this season, including Jamie Osborne and Ben Moxham in the back-three, and Alex Soroka in the back row.

Leinster’s Osborne and Moxham of Ulster are joined in the back-three by Josh O’Connor with Connacht duo Cathal Forde and Shane Jennings making up the midfield partnership.

It is an all Ulster half-back pairing as Conor McKee and James Humphreys, son of former Ireland star David, start at scrum half and out-half respectively.

In the front row, Leinster’s Temi Lasisi, Ronan Loughnane and Sam Illo pack down together, while Mark Morrissey and Harry Sheridan join forces in the second row.

Soroka, who won two caps during the 2020 Under-20 Six Nations, starts at blindside flanker with Connacht’s Oisin McCormack at openside and Kendellen at number 8.

With 11 replacements named, Murphy has plenty of options on the bench as Ireland get their campaign underway in the Welsh capital.

Tim Corkery, who made his Leinster debut against Zebre in March, is the fifth player in the squad with senior experience to his name, while the out-half also featured for Ireland during last year’s U-20 Six Nations.

Meanwhile, 6ft 9in lock Alex Samuel will captain Scotland from the engine room as Sean Lineen’s charges look to get their Championship off to a strong start.

Of the 26 names in the Scottish squad, 17 are supported by the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy, with 10 of the starting team contracted Academy players aligned to Edinburgh or Glasgow Warriors.

Samuel and fellow second row Max Williamson were both invited to train with the Scotland senior squad earlier this year during the Guinness Six Nations.

Patrick Harrison will start at hooker where he packs down alongside Cole Lamberton and Ealing Trailfinders’ Olly Frostick.

Lineen has Archie Smeaton at blindside flanker, Harri Morris fills the openside spot, and Watsonians’ Ben Muncaster completes the pack.

Behind the scrum, Murray Redpath, son of former Scotland captain Bryan, partners Cameron Scott at half-back.

Elliot Gourlay from Sale Sharks and Scott King combine in the centre, while Finlay Callaghan and Michael Gray line up on the wings, with Boroughmuir Bears’ Ollie Melville at full-back.

SCOTLAND U-20: Ollie Melville (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors); Finlay Callaghan (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors), Scott King (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Gourlay (Sale Sharks), Michael Gray (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors); Cameron Scott (Southern Knights/Edinburgh Rugby), Murray Redpath (Newcastle University); Cole Lamberton (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby), Patrick Harrison (Southern Knights/Edinburgh Rugby), Olly Frostick (Ealing Trailfinders), Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Alex Samuel (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (capt), Archie Smeaton (Cambridge University), Harri Morris (Southern Knights), Ben Muncaster (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby).

Replacements: Jamie Drummond (Ayrshire Bulls), Michael Jones (Boroughmuir Bears), George Breese (Stirling Wolves), Euan Ferrie (Glasgow Hawks), Rory Jackson (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter University), Rhys Tait (Southern Knights), Ethan McVicker (Melrose Rugby), Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls), Thomas Glendinning (Glasgow Hawks), Ross McKnight (Stirling County).

IRELAND U-20: Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Naas RFC/Leinster); Ben Moxham (Larne High School/Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Cathal Forde (Colaiste Iognaid/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Josh O’Connor (St. Peter’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster); James Humphreys (Dean Close School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Temi Lasisi (CBS Enniscorthy/Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster), Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster), Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster), Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin/An Ghaeltacht/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Garryowen FC/Munster), Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster), Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Will Reilly (CBS Portlaoise/MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster), Tim Corkery (St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny/UCD RFC/Leinster), Chris Cosgrave (St. Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht), Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris/Shannon RFC/Munster).

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear, Rhys Jones (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Sean Brickell (Wales)

Watch

The game is live on RTE and the RTE Player in the Republic of Ireland. BBC iPlayer is not available for this round so viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK and around the world can watch it live on YouTube (below) or Facebook.

Pre-Match Quotes – Richie Murphy (Ireland U-20s): “The squad and management have worked tirelessly over the last number of months in preparation for the Six Nations.

“The 26 players selected for Saturday have the honour of representing the group against Scotland. We are excited about the challenge ahead and the prospect of the Ireland Under-20s back in action again.”

Sean Lineen (Scotland U-20s): “It’s been a new and exciting squad for us to work with this year, with every player putting their hand up for selection.

“We know that Ireland will be a clever and physical side who will look to get their opportunities in early. Our team know their individual roles and what they must do to get us off to a good start.

“We arrived in Cardiff earlier this week and the final preparations have gone well. The boys are ready to go.”

Pre-Match Links –

Murphy Excited To See His Ireland U-20s Kick Off Six Nations Campaign

Forde Ready To Seize His Chance When U-20 Six Nations Gets Underway

Ireland Captaincy A ‘Huge Honour’ For U-20 Skipper Kendellen

Murphy: We Feel We Are Ready To Compete

Recent Meetings –

2018: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 30 Scotland U-20s 25, Donnybrook; World Rugby U-20 Championship – 9th-12th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 29 Scotland U-20s 45, Stade Aimé-Giral, Perpignan

2019: Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland U-20s 5 Ireland U-20s 24, Netherdale, Galashiels

2020: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 38 Scotland U-20s 26, Irish Independent Park

Support the Ireland U-20s on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen, #SCOvIRE and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.