Willie Faloon's first match as Ireland Under-20 Men's head coach is against familiar opponents Italy, and sees them return to Cape Town where the class of 2023 finished second at last year's World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Meanwhile, like Ireland, the Italy Under-20s come into this tournament with a new coaching group, led by former assistant coach Roberto Santamaria. He has succeeded the Zebre Parma-bound Massimo Brunello.
The Azzurrini finished fourth in this year's U-20 Six Nations, the highlight of which was their 23-20 victory over France in Béziers. Notably, a third of their players involved in this World Rugby U-20 Championship are eligible again for next year's competition.
Unsurprisingly, Santamaria's selection for this mouth-watering opener against Ireland is very similar to the one that went close to upsetting O'Connell and his team-mates almost five months ago.
Petrarca's Mattia Jimenez is the only change to the back-line, as he links up at half-back with Martino Pucciariello, the place-kicking son of former Munster prop Federico. Vicenza winger Marco Scalabrin starred in that Cork game, scoring two tries and supplying the assist for another.
Up front, props Sergio Pellicioli and Davide Ascari get the nod this time, locks Mattia Midena and Giacomo Milano also freshen up the tight five, and talented captain Jacopo Botturi leads a tried and trusted back row trio.
This summer's World Rugby U-20 Championship will be the first global competition to feature the three global law amendments, which were approved by the World Rugby Council. In addition, six law trials will be 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 will operate the full Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process, and all players will 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), Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Sam Berman (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Jacob Boyd (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster), 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: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC/Munster), Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McKillop (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Jake O'Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht).
ITALY U-20: Mirko Belloni (Verona Rugby); Marco Scalabrin (Rugby Vicenza), Federico Zanandrea (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Nicola Bozzo (USA Perpignan), Lorenzo Elettri (Rugby Rovigo Delta); Martino Pucciariello (CUS Milano), Mattia Jimenez (Rugby Petrarca); Sergio Pellicioli (Rugby Lyons), Nicholas Gasperini (Rugby Viadana 1970), Davide Ascari (Rugby Colorno 1975), Mattia Midena (Rugby Paese), Giacomo Milano (U.R. Capitolina), Cesare Zucconi (Cavalieri U.R. Prato Sesto), Luca Bellucci (Rugby Roma Olimpic), Jacopo Botturi (Petrarca Rugby) (capt).
Replacements: Valerio Siciliano (CA Briviste Corrèze), Francesco Gentile (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Federico Pisani (Verona Rugby), Tommaso Redondi (Verona Rugby), Nelson Casartelli (Benetton Rugby), Lorenzo Casilio (Rugby Vicenza), Simone Brisighella (Rugby Viadana 1970), Patrick de Villiers (Rugby Noceto).
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
Television Match Official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - POOL B:
Saturday, June 29 - IRELAND UNDER-20s v ITALY UNDER-20s, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time (live on RugbyPass TV) Team News: Head coach Willie Faloon has named the Ireland Under-20 Men's team (sponsored by PwC) for today's opening game of the World Rugby U-20 Championship against Italy in Cape Town (kick-off 3.30pm Irish time).
Evan O’Connell will captain the team as they open their Pool B campaign against Six Nations rivals Italy at the DHL Stadium. The match can be watched for free live on RugbyPass TV.
Compared to the Ireland U-20 side that started their final Six Nations game against Scotland, there are six personnel changes, including a debut at openside flanker for Galway Corinthians' Max Flynn, and two positional switches.
Dublin University's Davy Colbert makes his first Ireland U-20 start, having appeared twice off the bench previously, while Sam Berman, who played for Terenure College in this year's Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A final, returns at inside centre.
It will be the fit-again Berman's first appearance for the Ireland U-20s since last July's World Rugby U-20 Championship decider against France. He is joined by Finn Treacy, which switches infield from the right wing, in a new-look centre partnership.
Ben O'Connor, Hugo McLaughlin, Jack Murphy, and Oliver Coffey complete the back-line, having started all five matches of Ireland's unbeaten U-20 Six Nations campaign, along with Treacy.
Prop Patreece Bell from Sale Sharks comes into the front row to make his second start, with Ulster's Jacob Boyd shifting to the loosehead side. Danny Sheahan, Alan Spicer, and O'Connell also feature in the tight five.
A strong-carrying back row unit is made up of Sean Edogbo, who ran in the decisive try during Ireland's 23-22 home win over Italy back in February, Flynn, who missed the Six Nations through injury, and Shannon number 8 Luke Murphy.
Faloon has strong options on the bench, with Stephen Smyth, Emmet Calvey, Andrew Sparrow, James McKillop, and Bryn Ward providing the replacements up front.
UL Bohemian scrum half Jake O’Riordan is in line for his Ireland U-20 debut should he come off the bench. Connacht backs Sean Naughton and Hugh Gavin complete the matchday 23.
Speaking about what they have worked on heading into the tournament, Faloon said: "Just subtle changes, a few things just to evolve how we play, as we want to go a little bit deeper in and play a bit harder in.
"Because I'm head coach now (having taken over from Richie Murphy) and the roles have changed, I can lead a little bit more now around that defence where we want to go a little bit harder, you know?
"We've tried to kick on a layer from what we did in the Six Nations. We're working with a development group and there's always going to be that effort to add layers to what we do.
“We’re trying to do that with every part of the game, from my side. From the defensive point of view, we want to bring on that aspect.”
The former Ulster and Connacht flanker added: “We’ve spoken a lot around the close turnarounds. We’ve got five games, five-day turnarounds, and it’s pretty intense.
“We’re well aware of the challenge from last year and we’ve spoken about it a good bit. The players are excited about it but they know it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
Meanwhile, like Ireland, the Italy Under-20s come into this tournament with a new coaching group, led by former assistant coach Roberto Santamaria. He has succeeded the Zebre Parma-bound Massimo Brunello.
The Azzurrini finished fourth in this year's U-20 Six Nations, the highlight of which was their 23-20 victory over France in Béziers. Notably, a third of their players involved in this World Rugby U-20 Championship are eligible again for next year's competition.
Unsurprisingly, Santamaria's selection for this mouth-watering opener against Ireland is very similar to the one that went close to upsetting O'Connell and his team-mates almost five months ago.
Petrarca's Mattia Jimenez is the only change to the back-line, as he links up at half-back with Martino Pucciariello, the place-kicking son of former Munster prop Federico. Vicenza winger Marco Scalabrin starred in that Cork game, scoring two tries and supplying the assist for another.
Up front, props Sergio Pellicioli and Davide Ascari get the nod this time, locks Mattia Midena and Giacomo Milano also freshen up the tight five, and talented captain Jacopo Botturi leads a tried and trusted back row trio.
This summer's World Rugby U-20 Championship will be the first global competition to feature the three global law amendments, which were approved by the World Rugby Council. In addition, six law trials will be 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 will operate the full Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process, and all players will 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), Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Sam Berman (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Jacob Boyd (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster), 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: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC/Munster), Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McKillop (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Jake O'Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht).
ITALY U-20: Mirko Belloni (Verona Rugby); Marco Scalabrin (Rugby Vicenza), Federico Zanandrea (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Nicola Bozzo (USA Perpignan), Lorenzo Elettri (Rugby Rovigo Delta); Martino Pucciariello (CUS Milano), Mattia Jimenez (Rugby Petrarca); Sergio Pellicioli (Rugby Lyons), Nicholas Gasperini (Rugby Viadana 1970), Davide Ascari (Rugby Colorno 1975), Mattia Midena (Rugby Paese), Giacomo Milano (U.R. Capitolina), Cesare Zucconi (Cavalieri U.R. Prato Sesto), Luca Bellucci (Rugby Roma Olimpic), Jacopo Botturi (Petrarca Rugby) (capt).
Replacements: Valerio Siciliano (CA Briviste Corrèze), Francesco Gentile (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Federico Pisani (Verona Rugby), Tommaso Redondi (Verona Rugby), Nelson Casartelli (Benetton Rugby), Lorenzo Casilio (Rugby Vicenza), Simone Brisighella (Rugby Viadana 1970), Patrick de Villiers (Rugby Noceto).
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
Television Match Official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)