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

Matchday two of the Under-20 Six Nations in Cardiff concludes with a crunch encounter between Ireland, who sit top of the table, and Wales who are hoping to make the most of home advantage.

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2021 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, June 25

WALES UNDER-20s (3rd) v IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st), Cardiff Arms Park, 8pm (live RTÉ 2 & Player/NI, UK and other locations: YouTube/Facebook Live)

Team News: The Ireland Under-20s opened their 2021 campaign with a 38-7 bonus point win over Scotland last weekend, and head coach Richie Murphy has made six personnel changes for round two.

Alex Kendellen, who was the player-of-the-match in the first game, once again captains the side from the back row as Ireland bid for back-to-back victories.

There are three changes in the back-line where Chris Cosgrave starts on the left wing, while Nathan Doak (pictured below) and Tim Corkery come in at scrum half and out-half respectively.

Former St. Michael’s College flyer Cosgrave is joined in the back-three by Jamie Osborne and Ben Moxham, with the all-Connacht centre pairing of Cathal Forde and Shane Jennings remaining unchanged.

There are two switches in the front row as Jack Boyle and Mark Donnelly are promoted from the bench to start either side of hooker Ronan Loughnane, while Alex Soroka moves from the back row to join Harry Sheridan at lock.

With Soroka moving to number four, Donnacha Byrne comes in at blindside flanker alongside his Connacht colleague Oisin McCormack and Kendellen in the loose forwards.

Murphy also shuffles his resources on the bench where the Ulster trio of George Saunderson, Jude Postlethwaite and Conor Rankin are included in the matchday squad for the first time.

Munster’s Fearghail O’Donoghue, who has been called up to replace the injured Darragh Murray, could also make his Ireland Under-20 debut.

Meanwhile, in selecting an unchanged team, Wales U-20 head coach Ioan Cunningham has given a vote of confidence to the side that saw off Italy 25-8 in the opening round.

“It’s always good to start with a win to build from, and credit to the group, they stepped up when they needed to,” said Cunningham, whose charges are led by Cardiff flanker Alex Mann.

“Early on Italy had a lot of possession and territory, they were camped close to our try-line and the boys dug in and we came out without conceding so we could see the boys growing in to the game which was great for us.

“We’re hoping to build from the cohesion created against Italy. As a group, we haven’t played many games so it’s a good opportunity for those guys who deserve to back it up with a second opportunity.”

Scarlets out-half Sam Costelow impressed with five penalties and a drop goal for an 18-point haul against the Italians. Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves led the way with 19 tackles in a player-of-the-match performance.

There are two changes on the bench for this second round tie, with Exeter Chiefs’ Christ Tshiunza and Rhys Thomas, from the Ospreys, replacing Tristan Davies and Evan Lloyd respectively.

Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Under-20 Six Nations Table

WALES U-20: Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby); Dan John (Exeter Chiefs), Ioan Evans (Pontypridd), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), Carrick McDonough (Dragons); Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Harri Williams (Scarlets); Garyn Phillips (Ospreys), Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Joe Peard (Dragons), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby) (capt), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Carwyn Tuipulotu (Scarlets).

Replacements: Oliver Burrows (Exeter Chiefs), Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Rugby), Lewys Jones (Nevers), James Fender (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Ethan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Will Reed (Dragons), Tom Florence (Ospreys), Morgan Richards (Dragons/Pontypridd), Eddie James (Scarlets), Rhys Thomas (Ospreys).

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), Chris Cosgrave (St. Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster); Tim Corkery (St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny/UCD RFC/Leinster), Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster); Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Garryowen FC/Munster), Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster), Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster), Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht), Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin/An Ghaeltacht/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Fearghail O’Donoghue (Cashel Community School/Cashel RFC/Munster), Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris/Shannon RFC/Munster), Conor Rankin (Campbell College Belfast/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster).

Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
Assistant Referees: Neal Chivers, Paul Dix (both England)
Television Match Official: Ian Tempest (England)

Watch

The game is live on RTÉ 2 and the RTE Player in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK and around the world can watch it live on YouTube or Facebook.

Pre-Match Quotes – Richie Murphy (Ireland U-20s): “We were pleased to get off to a winning start last weekend but the very nature of this Championship means you have to turn the page quickly and focus on the next challenge.

“We identified areas of our game that needed improvement after Scotland and we have been working on them this week.

“Wales will be a tough test at their home ground, but the group are looking forward to the challenge and building on last week’s performance.”

Ioan Cunningham (Wales U-20s): “I thought we came together and showed real spirit against Italy, especially early on when Italy had a lot of possession.

“Then obviously we found a way to win in the second half when the weather turned and it was wet, we found a way to squeeze them with scoreboard pressure and I thought there was some mature game management from Sam Costelow and our leaders.

“It’s going to be a different type of challenge this week with the kicking threat Ireland have got and their forwards like to carry through the defence, so we have really got to step up this week.”

Pre-Match Links –

Murphy: The Lads Are Really Hungry To Get Going Again

‘Wales In Cardiff Is A Brilliant Challenge For Us’ – Leamy

Osborne: Leinster Experience Has Been Really Beneficial

Breakthrough Season For NTS Players – 18 Senior Provincial Debuts & 1 Olympian

Jennings Score Wins Under-20 Six Nations Try Of Round 1

Recent Meetings –

2018: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 38 Wales U-20s 41, Donnybrook

2019: Under-20 Six Nations: Wales U-20s 17 Ireland U-20s 26, Zip World Stadium, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay

2020: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 36 Wales U-20s 22, Irish Independent Park

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