Under-20 Six Nations Preview: Italy Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s

Noel McNamara’s Ireland Under-20s, sponsored by PwC, have a hat-trick of U-20 Six Nations wins to aim for as they resume their campaign against an Italian outfit that are hoping to avenge last season’s 38-34 Dublin defeat.

2019 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 22

ITALY UNDER-20s (5th) v IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st), Stadio Centro d’Italia, Rieti, 7pm local time/6pm Irish time (live stream on Irish Rugby YouTube channel)

Team News: Friday’s third round encounter kicks off at 7pm local time/6pm Irish time and will be streamed live via the Irish Rugby YouTube channel with thanks to PwC Ireland. There are two changes to the Ireland U-20 side that claimed 24-5 win away to Scotland last time out.

Shannon clubman Craig Casey, who missed the Scotland match through injury, returns to partner Harry Byrne at half-back. The other change sees the fit-again Angus Kernohan selected on the right wing – he won five Ireland U-20 caps last season and made his latest senior appearance for Ulster last Friday.

Munster duo Jake Flannery and Jonathan Wren complete the back-three with the centre pairing of captain David Hawkshaw and Liam Turner, the man-of-the-match against Scotland, getting its third successive outing of the tournament.

Corinthians hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin, who is chasing his fourth try of the Championship already, features in an unchanged front row with Josh Wycherley and Thomas Clarkson, while Charlie Ryan and Niall Murray, the second Connacht player in the pack, team up again in the engine room.

Martin Moloney, Scott Penny and number 8 John Hodnett combine once more in the loose forwards, with back-up provided by Ronan Watters of St. Mary’s College – one of four potential debutants on the bench. Banbridge prop Callum Reid and Munster pair Billy Scannell and Ben Healy are the other players looking to win their first U-20 caps.

Meanwhile, Italy U-20 head coach Fabio Roselli has made five changes to the team that went down 42-12 to Wales in Mantova last time out. All five players are promoted from the replacements for their first starts of the Championship.

The Italian selection includes only one player who featured in last season’s meeting at Energia Park where Ireland defeated the 14-man Azzurrini 38-34, outscoring the visitors by six tries to five in a thrilling contest. Centre Damiano Mazza was involved in that game and is on the bench for the rematch, losing out for Federico Mori.

Mogliano’s Giacomo Da Re also comes in at full-back with Lorenzo Citton of Padova getting the nod at scrum half alongside Paolo Garbisi, who kicked 12 points and was Italy’s man-of-the-match in their 32-22 bonus point victory away to Scotland in the opening round.

Roselli has also opted to freshen up the front row, which is consistently an area of strength for Italy at this level. Hooker Andrei Marinello and tighthead Filippo Alongi are both introduced. The hosts’ bench includes Padova fullback Jacopo Trulla who chipped in with late tries against both Scotland and Wales.

Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Under-20 Six Nations Table

ITALY U-20: Giacomo Da Re (Mogliano Rugby 1969); Edoardo Mastandrea (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Matteo Moscardi (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Federico Mori (Rugby Etruschi Livorno), Michael Mba (Rugby Casale); Paolo Garbisi (Mogliano Rugby 1969), Lorenzo Citton (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Matteo Drudi (Frascati Rugby Club), Andrei Marinello (Ruggers Tarvisium), Filippo Alongi (I Titani), Nicolae Cristian Stoian (Rugby Anzio), Thomas Parolo (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Andrea Chianucci (Toscana Aeroporti I Medicei), Davide Ruggeri (Rugby Como) (capt), Antoine Koffi (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano).

Replacements: Marco Bonanni (Florentia Rugby), Luca Franceschetto (Rugby Vicenza), Matteo Nocera (Fiamme Oro Rugby), Marco Butturini (Modena Rugby 1965), Manuel Zuliani (Rugby Paese), Gianmarco Piva (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Damiano Mazza (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano), Jacopo Trulla (Valsugana Rugby Padova).

IRELAND U-20: Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster); Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster), Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster), David Hawkshaw (Clontarf/Leinster) (capt), Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster); Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster); Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht), Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Scott Penny (UCD/Leinster), John Hodnett (UCC/Munster).

Replacements: Billy Scannell (Young Munster/Munster), Callum Reid (Banbridge/Ulster), Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster), Brian Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster), Ronan Watters (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster), Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster).

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mike English, Aled Evans (both Wales)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Italy U-20s to win: 4/1; Draw: 25/1; Ireland U-20s to win: 1/6

Pre-Match Quotes – Noel McNamara (Ireland U-20s):

We’re pleased to have won our opening two games, but the players are ambitious, and they are constantly looking for improvements in their performance, both individually and collectively.

“Our previous meetings with Italy have been really challenging encounters, with only one score separating the sides in our past number of games. The down week allowed for the players to get some good recovery in, as well as reviewing the Scotland game and looking ahead to this weekend.

“We had a really positive session with the Ireland senior side last Friday at the Aviva Stadium, so the players are now looking forward to getting back into the green jersey on Friday night in Rieti.”

Fabio Roselli (Italy U-20s):

We’re playing in the centre of Italy in a stadium that will make us feel right at home. Last year we played almost the whole game against Ireland down to 14 men and almost claimed a comeback win. We want to show our full potential and, in some way, make up for that game in last season’s Six Nations to show that we deserved to win it.”

Pre-Match Links –

Recent Meetings –

2016: U-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 19 Italy U-20s 13, Donnybrook

2017: U-20 Six Nations: Italy U-20s 26 Ireland U-20s 27, Stadio Enrico Chersoni, Prato; World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool B: Ireland U-20s 21 Italy U-20s 22, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi, Georgia

2018: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 38 Italy U-20s 34, Energia Park, Donnybrook

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