Scrum half Fintan Gunne was one of the Ireland Under-20s' try scorer against Italy during their round 3 encounter in Treviso ©INPHO/Matteo Ciambelli
A fascinating Under-20 Six Nations title race enters its final few days, with the Ireland U-20s (sponsored by PwC) resuming their challenge in Glasgow where they aim to keep up their winning run against Scotland.
Friday, March 10 –
SCOTLAND UNDER-20s (5th) v IRELAND UNDER-20s (2nd), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.15pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC iPlayer)
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Richie Murphy’s selected team shows three changes to the side that made it three wins out of three away to Italy last time out.
Fiachna Barrett and Evan O’Connell (pictured below) come into the pack for their first starts at this level, and Andrew Osborne, who has been impressing for Naas in the Energia All-Ireland League, makes his Ireland U-20 debut on the right wing.
Commenting ahead of the penultimate round clash, Murphy said: “We are continuing to build and evolve each week and we hope to bring our performance to a new level on Friday night, with Scotland set to pose a considerable challenge at their home ground.”
Henry McErlean, Osborne and Hugh Gavin make up the back-three, Hugh Cooney and John Devine are retained in midfield, and Sam Prendergast, the player-of-the-match in the victories over France and Italy, and Fintan Gunne continue together at half-back.
Connacht prop Barrett comes into the front row alongside George Hadden and captain Gus McCarthy, while 18-year-old Munster youngster O’Connell joins the ever-present Conor O’Tighearnaigh in the second row.
James McNabney, Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson will start together in the back row for the fourth successive game. The replacements bench includes two more potential U-20 debutants in Dublin University duo Liam Molony and Matthew Lynch.
Meanwhile, Scotland U-20 boss Kenny Murray has made four changes in personnel, with his line-up bolstered by a mix of new and returning faces.
Glasgow Warriors’ own Harris McLeod returns from injury in the second row, hoping to add to his try from the first round defeat to England. He links up with Jake Parkinson who makes his fourth straight start.
Edinburgh’s Liam McConnell co-captains the team from the back row, which includes his club-mate Rudi Brown who has mustered a try in each match the Scots have played so far in 2023.
With Richie Simpson ruled out through injury, Melrose’s Luke Townsend gets the nod at out-half, and there are also first starts of the Championship for wingers Georgie Gwynn and Logan Jarvie, who replace Will Robinson and Ben Evans respectively.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
SCOTLAND U-20: Dan King (Heriot’s Rugby); Logan Jarvie (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (co-capt), Kerr Yule (Glasgow Hawks), Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University); Luke Townsend (Melrose RFC), Finlay Burgess (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors); Craig Davidson (Watsonians), Corey Tait (Boroughmuir Bears), Moby Ogunlaja (Glasgow Hawks), Jake Parkinson (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University), Harris McLeod (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Boroughmuir Bears/Edinburgh Rugby) (co-capt), Rudi Brown (Southern Knights/Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Morris (GHA RFC).
Replacements: Elliot Young (Exeter University/Exeter Chiefs), Max Surry (Cardiff Met University), Robbie Deans (Watsonians/Edinburgh Rugby), Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Hawks), Sam Derrick (Southern Knights), Charlie Clare (Harlequins/Surrey University), Ben Salmon (Stirling Wolves/Glasgow Warriors), Andy McLean (Glasgow Hawks).
IRELAND U-20: Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster); Andrew Osborne (Naas 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), Fiachna Barrett (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), 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), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Liam Molony (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Oscar Cawley (Naas RFC/Leinster), Matthew Lynch (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Rory Telfer (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Television Match Official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
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 – George Hadden (Ireland U-20s): “It was certainly a step up (training a couple of times against the Ireland senior squad). They’re the number one team in the world, but we were happy coming out of it.
“No one went into their shells, we stood up and met them and it was a good experience, getting to talk to the senior players as well after, getting their opinions on things.
“I was talking to a few front rows, getting good chats with Andrew Porter and Tadhg (Furlong). They were giving good information. It was mainly to do with the scrum, but I was just asking their opinions on binds and set-ups. They were helpful.”
Kenny Murray (Scotland U-20s): “We can all agree our performance (in losing 54-12) in Agen was disappointing, we didn’t show enough energy and physicality to compete against the French team.
“Everyone – the management and players – know we can’t hide from that result. We’ve used the fallow week to regroup and focus on what we must do to bounce back against Ireland, especially in front of a home crowd.
“The return of some players from injury and the introduction of a few new faces into the team will hopefully be what we need to get a result we’re proud of.”
Opta Facts – Scotland Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s:
– Ireland have won 12 of their 15 matches against Scotland in the Under-20 Six Nations (L3), including each of their last seven in a row. Ireland defeated Scotland by 54 points last year (59-5), their biggest victory in the Championship
– Each of Scotland’s three victories against Ireland in the U-20 Six Nations have come at home, with the teams evenly split on three wins apiece on Scottish soil.
– Three of their last four meetings in Scotland have been decided by seven points or fewer, including two by a single point
– Scotland won their most recent home game in the U-20 Six Nations, against Wales, and will be aiming to win back-to-back home fixtures in the Championship for the first time since winning four in a row between 2015 and 2016
– Excluding matches at neutral venues, Ireland have won their last eight away games in the U-20 Six Nations. Before that run they had never won more than three in a row. Ireland’s last defeat as the away side came back in 2018 against England
– Ireland have the joint best ruck success rate in the U-20 Six Nations this year (97%), averaging the quickest ruck speed of any nation in the process (3.1s). Only Italy (4.6s) have a slower ruck speed than Scotland in the Championship this year (3.9s)
– Ireland (401) and Scotland (318) have made more carries than any other team in the U-20 Six Nations this year. As a result, Ireland have carried for the most metres (2287), while only France (72) have beaten more defenders than Scotland (57)
– Scotland have opted to kick from hand more often than any other team in the U-20 Six Nations this year (83), gaining the most kicking metres in the process (2426), although it is Ireland who have the highest average kick distance (34m per kick)
– Scotland have conceded the fewest penalties of any team in the U-20 Six Nations this year (31) and are the only side yet to be shown a card – every other team has received at least two. Ireland have conceded the second fewest penalties in the Championship in 2023 (32)
– Ireland’s Sam Prendergast is the top point scorer in the U20 Six Nations this year (49), slotting 20 of his 23 kicks at goal. He also ranks joint-second for try assists (3) and line break assists (3) in the Championship
– Scotland’s Jake Parkinson has hit 75 attacking rucks in the U-20 Six Nations this year, more than any other player, while Ireland’s Hugh Cooney (100%, 30/30) and Scotland’s Ruairaidh Hart (98%, 51/52) have the best attacking ruck effectiveness rates of the 49 players to hit 25-plus rucks this campaign
Recent Meetings –
2020: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland Under-20s 38 Scotland Under-20s 26, Irish Independent Park
2021: Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland Under-20s 7 Ireland Under-20s 38, Cardiff Arms Park
2022: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland Under-20s 59 Scotland Under-20s 5, Musgrave Park; Under-20 Six Nations Summer Series Play-Off: Ireland Under-20s 41 Scotland Under-20s 24, Stadio di Monigo, Treviso
Support the Ireland U-20s on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen, #SCOvIRE and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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