Three Changes For Ireland Under-21s

…St. Mary’s fly half Jonathan Sexton – one of the Under-21s’ three changes – kicking for goal against Italy last month…

There are three changes on the Ireland Under-21 team to play Scotland at Dubarry Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.35pm).

In the backs, Jonathon Sexton takes over at fly half from Garryowen’s Conan Doyle, who is named on the replacements bench.

Daragh Hurley, who had to withdraw from the starting side for the Wales game due to a hamstring injury, returns to the squad but must be content with a spot on the bench as Callum Black holds his position at loosehead prop.

Buccaneers prop Michael Diffley, who was brought into the replacements when Black moved into the starting line-up, does not make the matchday squad.

In the back row, UCC’s Ross Noonan, who was named as man of the match in the win over Italy last month, returns as blindside flanker in place of Michael Essex.

The team will be captained by Belfast Harlequins hooker Stuart Philpott.

IRELAND UNDER-21 (v SCOTLAND UNDER-21, Dubarry Park, Friday, March 10, 7.35pm):

15 – Fionn Carr (Blackrock College); 14 – Peter Durcan (Galwegians), 13 – Fergus McFadden (UCD), 12 – Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins), 11 – Matthew Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College); 10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College), 9 – Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch); 1 – Callum Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), 2 – Stuart Philpott (Belfast Harlequins) (capt), 3 – Paul Doran-Jones (Dublin University), 4 – Devin Toner (Lansdowne), 5 – Daniel Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), 6 – Ross Noonan (UCC), 7 – Ejike Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), 8 – Sean O’Brien (UCD).

Replacements: 16 – Sean Cronin (Shannon), 17 – Darragh Hurley (UCC), 18 – David McGowan (Buccaneers), 19 – Billy Holland (UCC), 20 – Duncan Williams (UCC), 21 – Conan Doyle (Garryowen), 22 – Tom Gleeson (Cork Con).