The Ireland Under-20s find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory, having only once before been involved in the play-offs for the bottom four places in an U-20 Championship back in 2010. For Peter Malone’s current crop, getting back to winning ways against Samoa is vital.
2017 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – 9TH-12TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: Tuesday, June 13
IRELAND UNDER-20s (4th, Pool B) v SAMOA UNDER-20s (4th, Pool A), Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, 1pm local time/10am Irish time (live eir Sport 1/World Rugby live streaming in certain countries)
Team News: Head coach Peter Malone has made 12 personnel changes to the Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PwC) for Tuesday’s World Rugby U-20 Championship 9th-12th place play-off against Samoa in Tbilisi
The game will take place at Avchala Stadium in the Georgian capital (kick-off 1pm local time/10am Irish time), with live coverage on eir Sport 1 and also live streaming on www.worldrugby.org in certain countries.
Alan Tynan and Michael Silvester are the only survivors in the back-line, the pair combining with the returning Calvin Nash in the back-three. Jack Stafford and Conor Dean, who scored 13 points between them against Scotland, slot back in at half-back.
Ciaran Frawley and Gavin Mullin will renew their centre partnership for the sixth time this season. Skerries man Frawley is the most-capped member of the selected Ireland team with eight U-20 appearances to date.
Up front, Naas’ Jordan Duggan comes in for his second start at this level, featuring in the front row alongside hooker Ronan Kelleher and Belfast Harlequins clubman Peter Cooper, who is set for his first start of the tournament at tighthead.
There is a good deal of experience in the second row and back row where Fineen Wycherley and Oisin Dowling combine in the engine room and Paul Boyle returns to captain Ireland from openside flanker. Gavin Coombes switches to the blindside with Caelan Doris resuming at number 8.
Instonians’ Under-19 winger Mark Keane, who joined the squad over the weekend as an injury replacement, is poised to win his first Ireland U-20 cap off the bench.
Meanwhile, recently-appointed Samoa U-20 boss Mahonri Schwalger has made nine personnel changes to the team that lost 54-20 to Wales last time out. It was a third reversal for Pool A’s bottom side.
Hooker Noel Sanft, who takes over as captain, is one four forwards retained along with lock Julius Togafau and back rowers Caleb Faalili and Sione Tuipulotu. In a reshuffled back-line, Tanielu Tele’a reverts to outside centre and Tagaloa Fonoti joins Howard Tagoai at half-back.
Winger Alexander Pohla, who is tied to the Manly club in Sydney, is one to watch. He scored two tries in their best performance of the campaign – a 33-26 defeat to Australia – and followed up with another against Wales last Thursday.
The Baby Manu won the second tier U-20 Trophy competition last year and have stated that their main aim is to avoid relegation in Georgia. They had a disrupted build-up to the U-20 Championship with Junior Leota resigning as head coach. The appointment of Schwalger, who was working as a technical advisor to the squad, was announced in mid-May.
World Rugby U-20 Championship – Ticket Information
World Rugby U-20 Championship Results/Fixtures
IRELAND U-20: Alan Tynan (Young Munster/Munster); Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster), Gavin Mullin (UCD/Leinster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster); Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jack Stafford (Shannon/Munster); Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster), Peter Cooper (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster), Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).
Replacements: Adam Moloney (Shannon/Munster), Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster), Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster), Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster), John Foley (Shannon/Munster), Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster), David McCarthy (Garryowen/Munster), Mark Keane (Instonians/Ulster).
SAMOA U-20: Ricky Ene (Iva Fa’asaleleaga); Darren Kellet Moore (Ponsonby), Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland Marist), Kerrod Foaese (Marist St. Pat’s), Alexander Pohla (Manly); Tagaloa Fonoti (Vaiala), Howard Tagoai (Lepa/Fasitoo Uta); Setu Enoka (Marist), Noel Sanft (Letava) (capt), Afioga Ielemia (Grammar Tech Auckland), Theodore Solipo (Patumahoe Counties Manukau), Julius Togafau (Marist Pakuranga), Francis Ah Him (Marist), Caleb Faalili (Papatoetoe Club), Sione Tuipulotu (Ardmore Marist).
Replacements: Petelo Ikenasio (Manurewa), Suetena Asomua (Counties Manukau), Frank Tupuola (Marist), Shammah-Anthony Solomona (Marist Hamilton), Peato Toeafe (Taga), Wyatt Setu (Queensland University), Pupi Ah See (Fasitoo Uta), Godinet Tinei (Waitemata Auckland).
Referee: Tom Foley (England)
Assistant Referees: Pali de Luca (Argentina), Tasuku Kawahara (Japan)
Television Match Official: Charles Samson (South Africa)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland U-20s to win: 1/7; Draw: 25/1; Samoa U-20s to win: 9/2
Pre-Match Quotes – Peter Malone (Ireland U-20s): “Things didn’t go to plan in the pool stages (with three defeats), but now it is about digging deep and looking to get a result against Samoa.
“That’s not going to be easy as they caused problems for their opposition throughout their pool games and we know they’re going to be very physical. The players know what lies ahead (tomorrow) and they’re very focused, and really up for this game.”
Paul Boyle (Ireland U-20s): “Samoa’s a big challenge for us. They’re going to be a good physical team and we’re really looking forward to playing them. It’s at the stage where if you lose you’re in a relegation play-off, so it’s a really, really big game for us and for Samoa.
“I’m sure they’ve done a lot of preparation, but we’re focused on our own game and getting our own performance right. There’s a few aspects of our game which we haven’t got right in the last few matches, so if we get them right we’re confident going into it.”
Pre-Match Links –
Injuries Continue To Hit Ireland U-20 Squad
Semi-Finals Are ‘Going To Be Massive’
In Pics: Ireland Under-20s Train In Tbilisi
Future Stars Show Support For UN Gender Equality Campaign
Law Trials To Be Rolled Out At U-20 Championship
Previous Meetings –
2009: IRB Junior World Championship – 7th-8th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 3 Samoa U-20s 9, Level 5 Stadium, Fukuoka
2010: IRB Junior World Championship – 9th-12th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 37 Samoa U-20s 10, Club Atletico Estudiantes, Parana
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