The Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) are 80 minutes away from lifting World Championship silverware – they meet England in a mouth-watering final at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 7pm).
2016 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL: Saturday, June 25
ENGLAND UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, AJ Bell Stadium, 7pm (live TG4/TG4 Player/Sky Sports 1 HD)
Team News: The Ireland Under-20 team has been named for their World Rugby U-20 Championship final clash with tournament hosts England in Salford.
Head coach Nigel Carolan has retained the same matchday 23 from last Monday’s 37-7 semi-final victory over Argentina at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.
The in-form front row is made up of Andrew Porter, Adam McBurney and Ben Betts, with captain James Ryan partnered in the second row by Sean O’Connor.
Max Deegan, who has been nominated for the Player of the Tournament award (voting details here), starts at number 8, while flankers David Aspil and Greg Jones continue either side of him.
Stephen Kerins and Johnny McPhillips, who has amassed 41 points in his last three outings, will direct operations from half-back. The pair will have the strong-running Conor O’Brien and Shane Daly outside them at centre.
Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale, who has scored four tries so far in the tournament, will start at full-back with Matthew Byrne and Hugo Keenan on the wings. Keenan and blindside Jones have been ever-present in the Irish starting line-up from the pool stages through to this weekend’s decider.
Speaking ahead of Ireland’s first final appearance at U-20 level, Carolan said: “When this group of players came together for the U-20 Six Nations earlier this year, they showed a willingness and a desire to learn and grow together as a group. They have put in the hard work on and off the field this season and their reward for that is tomorrow evening’s final against England.
“All the players came through the game against Argentina on Monday and we have had a good few days of preparation, so I think everyone is now just looking forward to getting the game underway tomorrow.”
The Under-20 final between England and Ireland will be broadcast live on TG4 and Sky Sports 1 HD. New Zealand’s Paul Williams will referee the game.
Meanwhile, like Carolan, England U-20 boss Martin Haag has also named an unchanged squad for the showdown in Salford. His side defeated Italy, Scotland and Australia in their pool before posting a 39-17 semi-final win over South Africa.
The home side will be led by Northampton Saints out-half Harry Mallinder with Max Green named at scrum half and inside centre Johnny Williams partnering Joe Marchant in midfield. Wingers Sam Aspland-Robinson and Matt Gallagher and full-back Max Malins make up the back-three.
Hooker Jack Singleton is joined in the front row by Lewis Boyce and Billy Walker, Stan South partners Huw Taylor in the second row and flanker George Nott, who plays his club rugby at the AJ Bell Stadium for Sale Sharks, features in the back row along with Will Evans and number 8 Callum Chick.
World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Ticket Information
World Rugby Under-20 Championship Fixtures/Results
ENGLAND U-20: Max Malins (Saracens); Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Johnny Williams (London Irish), Matt Gallagher (Saracens); Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints) (capt), Max Green (Yorkshire Carnegie); Lewis Boyce (Yorkshire Carnegie), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Billy Walker (Saracens), Stan South (Harlequins), Huw Taylor (Worcester Warriors), George Nott (Sale Sharks), Will Evans (Leicester Tigers), Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons).
Replacements: Charlie Piper (Harlequins), Tom West (Wasps), Will Stuart (Wasps), Andrew Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), Jack Willis (Wasps), Harry Randall (Gloucester), Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester).
IRELAND U-20: Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Matthew Byrne (Terenure College/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster), Conor O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Johnny McPhillips (Queen’s University/Ulster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Ben Betts (Young Munster/Munster), Sean O’Connor (Cashel/Munster), James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt), Greg Jones (UCD/Leinster), David Aspil (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster).
Replacements: Vincent O’Brien (Cork Constitution/Munster), James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), Adam Coyle (Naas/Leinster), Evan Mintern (Cork Constitution/Munster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster), Niall Saunders (Harlequins/Exiles), Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons/Exiles), Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster).
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Thomas Charabas (France)
Television Match Official: John Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): England U-20s to win: 2/9; Draw: 22/1; Ireland U-20s to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes – James Ryan (Ireland U-20s): “The most pleasing aspect of the Wales game was the character shown, we were 17-0 down. It was similar when we went away to England in the Six Nations and we were down a lot but the boys believed in the product and stuck at it and got the win.
“Against New Zealand, the defensive performance in the rain was really pleasing. We took a lot of their space with our line speed. To be the first Irish men’s team to beat New Zealand was a real highlight, that was a bit of history for us and a real proud moment.
“We’re proud to be where we are, we have made a bit of history but we don’t want to settle for second place. It would mean everything for us as a group because we have put a lot of time into this. For Irish Rugby it would be huge (if we won).”
Martin Haag (England U-20s): “It’s going to be a great occasion and for us, it is about focusing on delivering at the highest level. We need to execute effectively and do the simple things well. There is a lot of emotion around these games which is why it’s important not to try and do anything differently in our approach.
“As always, we are aiming to get to a level of performance that we aspire to and we were very close against South Africa. The challenge for us is how we replicate and then improve on that.
“There were some tough calls to make in selection. The performance against South Africa was fantastic and because of that those guys have earned their places for the final. We were really pleased with the impact off the bench too and are going to need that again in the latter stages against Ireland.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland Under-20s Stun Wales With Stirring Comeback Win
Ireland Under-20s Down New Zealand For Historic Victory
Ireland U-20s Go Through To Semi-Finals As Unbeaten Pool Winners
Ireland U-20s Roar Into World Final With Four-Try Win
Deegan Nominated For U-20 Player Of The Tournament
Where To Watch The 2016 World Rugby U-20 Championship
Class Of 2016 Ready To Enter U-20 Championship Folklore
Recent Meetings –
2014: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: England U-20s 33 Ireland U-20s 9, Franklin’s Gardens; IRB Junior World Championship Semi-Final: England U-20s 42 Ireland U-20s 15, QBE Stadium, Auckland
2015: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Ireland U-20s 14 England U-20s 19, Donnybrook
2016: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: England U-20s 20 Ireland U-20s 26, Kingston Park, Newcastle
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