The scene is set for a very exciting day at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Manchester where the Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) are on course to finish top of Pool A and qualify for the semi-finals.
2016 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – POOL A: Wednesday, June 15
IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st) v GEORGIA UNDER-20s (4th), Manchester City Academy Stadium, 1.30pm (live TG4/TG4 Player/Sky Sports 4 HD)
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Nigel Carolan has made 13 changes to the team that defeated New Zealand 33-24 for an historic victory at the same venue last Saturday.
In the forwards, James Bollard, Vincent O’Brien and Vakh Abdaladze start together in a new front row. Debutant Evan Mintern from Cork Constitution is joined in the second row by his Munster colleague Sean O’Connor.
Greg Jones is the only forward retained from the starting line-up against New Zealand and he will pack down with new cap Conall Boomer of Belfast Harlequins and Shannon number 8 Kelvin Brown.
There is also a new-look back-line, with 18-year-old scrum half Niall Saunders making his first start at this level. He will link up with Ulster’s Johnny McPhillips, who came off the bench to kick eight points against the Baby Blacks.
Paul Kiernan and Jimmy O’Brien make up the centre partnership, while UCD’s Hugo Keenan is set for his third start of the tournament on the left wing. The back-three is completed by Ireland Sevens international Terry Kennedy and Brett Connon, who was called up as an injury replacement for the unfortunate Bill Johnston (shoulder).
With regular captain James Ryan moving to the replacements, the much-changed team will be captained by UCC centre Kiernan, who led Munster to the IRFU Under-20 Interprovincial title earlier this season and skippered the Ireland U-19s last year.
Notably, Clontarf’s Georgian-born prop Abdaladze is one of four players in the Ireland side who are sons of former senior international players. His father Nika played twice for Georgia in 1997 as part of the 1999 Rugby World Cup qualifying process, while there are three proud Ireland-capped dads – Terry Kennedy senior, Michael Kiernan and Rob Saunders – proudly following the progress of their youngsters.
Meanwhile, Georgia ran Wales very close in the second round last Saturday, falling to a narrow 10-9 defeat in a rain-hit game that saw their well-drilled scrum get on top.
Buoyed by that performance, the Junior Lelos have largely kept the same starting line-up with just three changes in personnel. Captain Vasil Lobzhanidze, who played four times at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, returns at scrum half, taking over from Gela Aprasdize – the scorer of those three penalties against the Welsh.
Hooker Lasha Sajaia and lock Mikheil Babunashvili have been added to a pack that includes a combative back row unit which is led by Stade Montois number 8 Beka Gorgadze.
The Georgians, who are coached by Ilia Maisuradze, are appearing at their first World Rugby U-20 Championship after lifting the World Rugby U-20 Trophy last year.
World Rugby U-20 Championship – Ticket Information
World Rugby U-20 Championship Fixtures/Results
IRELAND U-20: Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons/Exiles); Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Paul Kiernan (UCC/Munster) (capt), Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Johnny McPhillips (Queen’s University/Ulster), Niall Saunders (Harlequins/Exiles); James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), Vincent O’Brien (Cork Constitution/Munster), Vakh Abdaladze (Clontarf/Leinster), Evan Mintern (Cork Constitution/Munster), Sean O’Connor (Cashel/Munster), Greg Jones (UCD/Leinster), Conall Boomer (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster).
Replacements: Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Adam Coyle (Naas/Leinster), James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster).
GEORGIA U-20: Mirian Modebadze (AIA, Didi 10); Lado Miminoshvili (Batumi, Didi 10), Giorgi Koshadze (Kharebi, League 1), Giorgi Kveseladze (Armazi, Didi 10), Sandro Merkvilishvili (Armia, Didi 10); David Modzgvrishvili (Academia, Didi 10), Vasil Lobzhanidze (Armazi, Didi 10) (capt); Tornike Mataradze (AIA, Didi 10), Lasha Sajaia (Jiki, Didi 10), Lasha Tabidze (Bordeaux-Begles), Mikheil Babunashvili (AIA, Didi 10), Otar Giorgadze (Clermont Auvergne), Ilia Spanderashvili (Armia, Didi 10), Giorgi Tsutskiridze (Brive), Beka Gorgadze (Stade Montois).
Replacements: Giorgi Khuroshvili (Armazi, Didi 10), Luka Goginava (Locomotivi, Didi 10), Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Francais), Demur Epremidze (Kochebi, Didi 10), Irakli Tskhadadze (Armazi, Didi 10), Gela Afrasidze (Lelo Saracens, Didi 10), Sandro Iluridze (Academia, Didi 10), Rati Shanidze (Lelo Saracens, Didi 10).
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Matthew O’Grady (England)
Television Match Official: David Rose (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 1/100; Draw: 75/1; Georgia U-20s to win: 40/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Nigel Carolan (Ireland U-20s): “We’re in a good position with two wins from two so far in this competition but we now have a big test against what is a very physical Georgian side.
“They pushed Wales all the way at the weekend (losing 10-9), so they will be looking to build on that performance and will be confident coming into this match.
“The nature of the tournament means that games come thick and fast so it’s important that we use our whole squad. There are a number of players who will be starting their first U-20 World Championship match so we’re looking forward to seeing them in action.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland Under-20s Stun Wales With Stirring Comeback Win
Ireland Under-20s Down New Zealand For Historic Victory
Injured Johnston Is Replaced By Connon
World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool A Preview
Where To Watch The 2016 World Rugby U-20 Championship
Recent Meetings –
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