Claiming only Ireland’s second ever win over New Zealand at Under-20 level is the aim for Noel McNamara’s young squad, as they look to finish an attritional but rewarding World Rugby U-20 Championship campaign on a high.
2019 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – 7TH-8TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: Saturday, June 22
IRELAND UNDER-20s v NEW ZEALAND UNDER-20s, Club Old Resian, Rosario, 1pm local time/5pm local time (live eir Sport 1/World Rugby website stream (in certain regions))
Team News: Head coach Noel McNamara has made seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PwC) to play New Zealand in today’s 7th-8th place play-off at Rosario’s Club Old Resian ground.
As Ireland wrap up the World Rugby U-20 Championship against the Baby Blacks, Leinster duo Max O’Reilly and Brian Deeny come in to make their first U-20 starts at full-back and number 8 respectively. Deeny ran in a superb charge-down try as second half replacement against England.
Rewarded for their excellent durability and form, Liam Turner and Jake Flannery complete their ever-present runs in the back-line with their tenth consecutive starts. Centre Turner has played all 720 minutes of the U-20s’ matches in 2019, closely followed by the versatile Flannery who has moved between the full-back and out-half positions.
Flannery takes the reins at number 10 this weekend, combining at half-back with his Shannon and Munster colleague Craig Casey. O’Reilly, Angus Kernohan, Cormac Foley and Rob Russell are the other changes behind the scrum, the latter two having both touched down against Italy last week.
Ireland’s starting front row from their U-20 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign is restored – Josh Wycherley and Thomas Clarkson pack down either side of talismanic hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin – and the final alteration sees Ulster’s Azur Allison make way for Deeny in the back row.
No matter the result today, McNamara’s charges will claim Ireland’s best World Rugby U-20 Championship finish in three years. The play-off clash will be broadcast live on eir Sport 1 and there will be live streaming via the World Rugby website in certain regions. Tickets are available from www.ticketek.com.ar.
Meanwhile, New Zealand U-20 head coach Craig Philpott has made nine changes to his team given their six-man injury list following the late 8-7 loss to Wales. Three players have flown out to Argentina as injury replacements, while lock Samipeni Finau has been hit with a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle.
Squad captain Kianu Kereru-Symes is ruled out with a neck injury, so former New Zealand U-19 cricket captain Kaylum Boshier leads the side from the back row. Rivez Reihana joins his Auckland club-mate Taufa Funaki at half-back, with Coles Forbes, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Billy Proctor also added to the back-line.
Nanai-Seturo and Proctor gained Super Rugby experience this year with the Chiefs and the Hurricanes respectively, while highly-rated winger Leicester Fainga’anuku made his Crusaders debut in April. Boshier is joined by Jeriah Mua and Simon Parker in the loose forwards, with Shilo Klein, Fletcher Newell and Cullen Grace drafted into the tight five.
The New Zealand bench includes former Ireland forwards coach John Plumtree’s son Taine who played at Blackrock College during his time in Dublin. The Baby Blacks, who lost their pool decider with South Africa 25-17, have won this tournament on six previous occasions and have never finished lower than fifth before.
World Rugby U-20 Championship Results/Fixtures
World Rugby U-20 Championship Pools
IRELAND U-20: Max O’Reilly (Dublin University/Leinster); Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster), Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster), Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster); Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster); Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Ronan Watters (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Brian Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster).
Replacements: Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster), Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster), Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster), John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht), Luke Clohessy (Shannon/Munster), Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster), Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster), Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster), David Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD/Leinster).
NEW ZEALAND U-20: Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty); Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau), Billy Proctor (Wellington), Quinn Tupaea (Waikato), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Tasman); Rivez Reihana (Auckland), Taufa Funaki (Auckland); Oliver Norris (Waikato), Shilo Klein (Canterbury), Fletcher Newell (Canterbury), Cullen Grace (Canterbury), Tupou Va’ai (Taranaki), Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki) (capt), Jeriah Mua (Bay of Plenty), Simon Parker (Waikato).
Replacements: Rob Cobb (Auckland), Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Wellington), Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury), Taine Plumtree (Wellington), James Thompson (Waikato), Kohan Herbert (Bay of Plenty), Leroy Carter (Bay of Plenty), Fergus Burke (Canterbury), Dallas Mcleod (Canterbury), Chay Fihaki (Canterbury).
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Ignacio Bocardo (Uruguay)
Television Match Official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 13/8; Draw: 14/1; New Zealand U-20s to win: 8/15
Pre-Match Quotes – Charlie Ryan (Ireland U-20s):
It would have been easy for us just to tap out at 14 down (against England), so (I’m) really proud of the boys to come back. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for us in the end. That happens in a game of rugby, but really proud of the performance from the lads.
“We’re a confident group, we would have backed ourselves to win that game. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for us. We’ll go again and we’ve one more game to go at the weekend. 100% we can beat New Zealand.”
Craig Philpott (New Zealand U-20s):
We’re all very disappointed in the results, but we’re also acutely aware that we were only two points away from playing in the top four. Our focus for this last game is if we can nail our skill execution we know we are a very good team and we want to show people that.
“Ireland have the best kicking percentage in the competition in terms of goal-kicking and they kick the ball a lot so that’s leaning towards Wales, but they’re also quite happy to use the ball as well so they’ll play a bit more like Scotland and try and use width. We’re expecting a bit of both.”
Pre-Match Links –
Superb Six-Try Salvo Sees Ireland Under-20s Over The Line In Santa Fe
14-Man Ireland Falter In Final Quarter Against Impressive Junior Wallabies
Ireland Under-20s Bounce Back With Bonus Point Win Over Italy
Ireland Under-20s Leak Last-Minute Try In Titanic Tussle With England
In Pics: Heartbreak For Ireland U-20s Despite Heroic Fight-Back
Recent Meetings –
2015: World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool C: New Zealand U-20s 25 Ireland U-20s 3, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
2016: World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool A: New Zealand U-20s 24 Ireland U-20s 33, Manchester City Stadium, Manchester
2017: World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool B: Ireland U-20s 3 New Zealand U-20s 69, Kutaisi Stadium, Kutaisi
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