The middle weekend of the Under-20 Six Nations has a fascinating Celtic derby down for decision at Donnybrook tonight, as the Ireland Under-20s, sponsored by PwC, look to make it two wins on the bounce against Wales.
2018 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 23
IRELAND UNDER-20s (4th) v WALES UNDER-20s (3rd), Donnybrook, 7.15pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only)/S4C)
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Noel McNamara has made three changes to the team that defeated Italy 38-34 fortnight ago. In the pack, Ronan Kelleher has recovered from the illness that forced him out of the Italy game, rejoining props Jordan Duggan and Jack Aungier in the front row.
Cormac Daly, one of the try scorers against the Italians, and Jack Dunne continue their second row partnership and the back row is also unchanged, with Sean Masterson, Matthew Agnew, who made his debut last time out, and Jack O’Sullivan again lining out together.
Scrum half Jonny Stewart returns to the side following back-to-back appearances for Ulster as a replacement. He reforms his half-back partnership from the France match with Harry Byrne, who has kicked six conversions and a penalty in the tournament.
James Hume will win his first Ireland U-20 cap, partnering fellow Ulster Academy member Angus Curtis in midfield. Hume made a try-scoring bow for Banbridge in the Ulster Bank League last Saturday, on his return from a leg fracture in the summer.
Hume’s inclusion at outside centre sees Ireland U-20 captain Tommy O’Brien move to the right wing. He forms a new back-three combination with James McCarthy, who scored three tries in the opening two rounds, and full-back Michael Silvester.
The Ireland Under-20s’ home matches at Donnybrook are again sponsored by Electric Ireland, and tonight’s encounter will be broadcast live on RTE Two, with coverage beginning at 7pm. Ireland U-20 tickets are available on www.ticketmaster.ie.
Meanwhile, Wales Under-20 head coach Jason Strange has made ten changes to the side that started the 37-12 second round defeat to defending champions England in Newcastle.
There are first starts in the U-20 Six Nations for Cardiff Blues duo Max Llewellyn (centre) and Owen Lloyd (lock), Scarlets winger Tommy Rogers and Dragons loosehead Josh Reynolds. Max Williams (Dragons) returns from injury as part of a heavyweight second row, while openside James Botham (Cardiff Blues) is also back in the international jersey for the first time since last summer’s World Rugby U-20 Championship.
Cardiff Blues’ Ben Jones is back at out-half, with Ospreys’ Cai Evans reverting to full-back as part of a back-three which also sees the return of Dragons winger Joe Goodchild. On the bench, prop Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets) and back Dafydd Smith (Cardiff Blues) are in line for their first U-20 caps.
Only full-back Evans, outside centre Callum Carson, scrum half Harri Morgan, hooker Iestyn Harris, blindside and captain Tommy Reffell and number 8 Taine Basham remain in the starting line-up from the England game.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
IRELAND U-20: Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) (capt), James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster), Angus Curtis (Queen’s University/Ulster), James McCarthy (UL Bohemians/Munster); Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster); Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Cormac Daly (Clontarf/Leinster), Jack Dunne (Dublin University/Leinster), Sean Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht), Matthew Agnew (Ballymena/Ulster), Jack O’Sullivan (UCC/Munster).
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster), James French (UCC/Munster), Tom O’Toole (Banbridge/Ulster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Ronan Foley (UCD/Leinster), Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf/Leinster), Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Angus Kernohan (Ballymena/Ulster).
WALES U-20: Cai Evans (Ospreys); Joe Goodchild (Dragons), Callum Carson (Ospreys), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Tommy Rogers (Scarlets); Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues), Harri Morgan (Ospreys); Josh Reynolds (Dragons), Iestyn Harris (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Henry (Ospreys), Owen Lloyd (Cardiff Blues), Max Williams (Dragons), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers) (capt), James Botham (Cardiff Blues), Taine Basham (Dragons).
Replacements: Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jack Pope (Bridgend), Morgan Morris (Ospreys), Dan Babos (Dragons), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Smith (Cardiff Blues).
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson, Bob Nevins (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 4/7; Draw: 18/1; Wales U-20s to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Noel McNamara (Ireland U-20s): “We are progressing well as a team and we have been building week on week. We had a good hit-out against the senior squad in Athlone last week and the players have gone well in training since the Italy game.
“Wales bring a new challenge and it is one that the players are very much looking forward to. We took our foot off the pedal in the second half against Italy, so we’ll be looking for a more sustained performance on Friday night.”
Jason Strange (Wales U-20s): “We started the tournament very positively with a good (36-3) win against Scotland, and while the result (37-12) was firmly in England’s favour in our last outing, we saw enough to be happy about going forward.
“There’s a very good feeling in the camp, and with players coming in and out of regional rugby, we’ve been able to rotate the squad quite a lot. On Friday night we will have capped 24 new players, which is in keeping with our aim to give opportunities for players to stake a claim leading into this year’s World Rugby U-20 Championship.”
Recent Meetings –
2015: U-20 Six Nations: Wales U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 12, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay; World Rugby U-20 Championship – 5th/8th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 12 Wales U-20s 22, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
2016: U-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 24 Wales U-20s 35, Donnybrook; World Rugby U-20 Championship Pool A: Wales U-20s 25 Ireland U-20s 26, Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester
2017: U-20 Six Nations: Wales U-20s 41 Ireland U-20s 27, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay
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