The Ireland Under-20 Men (sponsored by PwC) play Georgia for the first time since 2018, determined to double their win tally as they switch to Stellenbosch for the World Rugby U-20 Championship’s second round.
WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – POOL B:
Thursday, July 4 –
IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st) v GEORGIA UNDER-20s (3rd), Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, kick-off 2pm local time/1pm Irish time (live on RugbyPass TV)
Team News: Max Flynn and Ruben Moloney will make their debuts for the Ireland Under-20 Men, as part of the team to play Georgia in today’s World Rugby U-20 Championship Pool B match in Stellenbosch (kick-off 1pm Irish time – live on RugbyPass TV).
Hooker Mikey Yarr, who captained the Ireland U-19s this year, is also set to win his first U-20 cap off the bench. Willie Faloon’s side are sitting top of Pool B following an impressive 55-15 first round win over Italy last Saturday.
UCD winger Moloney slots into the back-three alongside Ben O’Connor and Davy Colbert, a debutant last weekend. Sam Berman, the three-try player-of-the-match against Italy, is partnered at centre this time by Connacht’s Hugh Gavin.
Gavin’s provincial colleague, Sean Naughton, steps up for his first start after a 14-point contribution during the second half of the tournament opener. He joins Oliver Coffey in a new-look half-back partnership.
Leinster front rowers Stephen Smyth and Andrew Sparrow come in for their second starts at this level. There is a first start for versatile Ulster forward James McKillop at lock, and captain Evan O’Connell and Jacob Boyd complete the tight five.
Galway Corinthians clubman Flynn, who was a late withdrawal before the first game, is fit to start at openside flanker. Luke Murphy, one of the try scorers the last day, and Sean Edogbo are retained in the starting back row.
Along with Yarr, Brian Gleeson, one of the Ireland U-20s’ best performers in 2023, is another notable inclusion among the replacements. The Munster talent is set to make his first U-20 appearance since the first round of this year’s U-20 Six Nations.
Emmet Calvey, Patreece Bell, and Alan Spicer are the other replacement forwards, while Naas scrum half Tadhg Brophy is poised for his tournament bow, with former Pres Bray pair Jack Murphy and Finn Treacy completing the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, Georgia head coach Lado Kilasonia has made four changes to the team that lost 35-11 to Australia in their opening fixture of the Championship in South Africa.
Out-half Luka Tsirekidze has played EPCR Challenge Cup rugby for Black Lion and won his first senior cap for Georgia against Germany in February. He has a new half-back partner for the Ireland game in Lelo Saracens’ Sandro Jigauri.
Hooker Mikheil Khakhubia and lock Temur Tsulukidze are the two changes up front for the Junior Lelos, who are captained from number 8 by Bayonne’s Nika Lomidze, one of seven starters tied to French clubs.
RC Army’s Luka Keshelava comes in on the left wing for the Georgians, who earned their highest ever World Rugby U-20 Championship finish of eighth last year. They had a win and a loss against England before the 2024 tournament, winning their home game in Tbilisi, 45-17.
This summer’s World Rugby U-20 Championship is the first global competition to feature the three global law amendments, which were approved by the World Rugby Council. In addition, six law trials are being implemented, which include the simplified red card sanction process and a revised TMO protocol trial.
For the first time, both the World Rugby U-20 Championship and Trophy competitions are operating the full Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process, and all players have access to smart mouthguards, under the World Rugby-funded player welfare initiative.
World Rugby U-20 Championship Fixtures/Results/Pool Tables
IRELAND U-20: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Sam Berman (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Ruben Moloney (UCD RFC/Leinster); Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Andrew Sparrow UCD RFC/Leinster), James McKillop (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Max Flynn (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster).
Replacements: Mikey Yarr (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC/Munster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster), Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster), Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht).
GEORGIA U-20: Otari Metreveli (AIA Kutaisi); Luka Khorbaladze (Lyon OU), Luka Kobauri (Leucate Corbières), Giorgi Khaindrava (Lelo Saracens), Luka Keshelava (RC Army); Luka Tsirekidze (Black Lion), Sandro Jigauri (Lelo Saracens); Luka Ungiadze (USON Nevers), Mikheil Khakhubia (Lelo Saracens), Davit Mtchedlidze (RC Toulon), Temur Tsulukidze (RC Junkers), Davit Lagvilava (FC Grenoble), Luka Suluashvili (Stade Aurillacois), Andro Dvali (Lelo Saracens), Nika Lomidze (Aviron Bayonnais) (capt).
Replacements: Shota Kheladze (Lelo Saracens), Luka Kotorashvili (Montpellier HR), Davit Kuntelia (Provence), Murtazi Tskhadadze (RC Aresi), Tornike Ganiashvili (Lelo Saracens), Mikheil Kachlavashvili (Lelo Saracens), Luka Takaishvili (RC Khvamli), Nugzari Kevkhishvili (Lelo Saracens).
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira, Zoe Naude (both South Africa)
Television Match Official: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Watch
The game is live on RugbyPass TV, which you can register to watch for free. Fans around the globe can watch the action through local broadcast partners in South Africa (SuperSport), France (L’Équipe TV), New Zealand (Sky NZ), and Fiji (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation).
Pre-Match Quotes – Evan O’Connell (Ireland U-20s): “We were pretty positive after that performance (against Italy). So much emphasis was placed on the set piece, and Italy were as physical as expected.
“We were happy to come out on the right side of the opening game. Obviously there are always improvements to be made, but it was good place to start.
“We’re aiming to build on that performance against Georgia, who will be tough opposition. It will be a big challenge again, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Lado Kilasonia (Georgia U-20s): “We went through the video analysis of our game, and Ireland’s game, and made a plan for how we want to take them on. They are a well-rounded, tight-knit team.
“They have a fast rucking style, have built strong systems, and attack with lots of phases. It’s an interesting challenge for us, and will teach us a lot and grow us as a team.”
Head-To-Head –
– Georgia beat Ireland at the third attempt in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2018, securing a 24-20 pool win thanks to tries from Arsen Machaladze, Sandro Svanidze and Tedo Abzhandadze
– Abzhandadze’s 44th-minute score, from a move that started inside Georgia’s own 22, left Ireland with too much to do despite a late comeback
– Trailing 24-8, Ireland grabbed a losing bonus point when Cormac Daly and Kuba Wojtkowicz crossed in the last few minutes. Harry Byrne landed one of his conversion attempts
– Conor Dean scored all of Ireland’s first half points with a try and a penalty
– Ireland beat Georgia 35-7 en route to making their first final at the 2016 in Manchester, while their 24-18 victory in 2017 ensured they avoided the relegation play-off decider
Previous Meetings –
2016: World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool A: Ireland U-20s 35 Georgia U-20s 7, Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester
2017: World Rugby Under-20 Championship 9th Place Play-Off: Georgia U-20s 18 Ireland U-20s 24, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
2018: World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool C: Ireland U-20s 20 Georgia U-20s 24, Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne
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