Eager to get back to winning ways, the Ireland Under-20s will field a number of new combinations in a much-changed team as they complete the pool stages of the World Rugby U-20 Championship against Six Nations rivals Italy.
2019 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – POOL B: Wednesday, June 12
ITALY UNDER-20s (4th) v IRELAND UNDER-20s (2nd), Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe, 10.30am local time/2.30pm local time (live eir Sport 1/World Rugby website stream (in certain regions))
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Noel McNamara has made eight personnel changes and two positional switches to the team to play Italy in Wednesday’s final Pool B match at the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Santa Fe.
The crunch game will be shown on eir Sport 1 and streamed live via the World Rugby website in non-geo blocked regions. Sponsored by PwC, the Ireland U-20s will be looking to bounce back from their 45-17 defeat to Australia, who are guaranteed to top the pool, and give themselves a shot at reaching the semi-finals.
Even with a bonus point win by a big margin, McNamara’s youngsters, who have five points and -12 points difference, need favourable results in the later games. Hosts Argentina sit on six points with Pool A leaders France on 10, a tally matched by both South Africa and New Zealand in Pool C. The latter two teams also boast points differentials of +52 and +51 respectively.
Dublin University and Leinster’s Liam Turner will captain Ireland for the first time, taking the reins from Charlie Ryan. The Grand Slam champions’ cruel run of luck with injuries has continued with John Hodnett (knee) and Stewart Moore (shoulder) both returning home early. Their squad places have been taken by the newly-arrived Luke Clohessy from Shannon and UCD’s David Ryan.
There are five players making their first starts for the Ireland U-20s – forwards John McKee, Michael Milne, Thomas Ahern and Ciaran Booth along with Connacht Academy scrum half Colm Reilly (pictured below). Turner is joined in the centre by versatile back Cormac Foley, who made two starts at scrum half during the U-20 Six Nations.
A rejigged back-three includes Jake Flannery at full-back and Rob Russell, whose second successive start sees him shift to the left wing. Garryowen and Munster’s Ben Healy will don the number 10 jersey, having done so with aplomb against France and Wales earlier in the season.
Mainstay prop Josh Wycherley is joined by McKee and Milne in the front row, while athletic Munster Academy lock Ahern steps up for his U-20 debut alongside Ryan Baird who was cleared to play by an independent World Rugby disciplinary committee following his red card against Australia.
Ronan Watters, who was withdrawn with a head injury during the first half last Saturday, is following the return-to-play protocols, so IQ Rugby forward Booth slots in at openside flanker in a back row completed by David McCann and his Ulster Academy colleague Azur Allison, who is fit to play after missing the loss to the Junior Wallabies.
Injury replacements Clohessy, David Ryan, Aaron O’Sullivan and Max O’Reilly could win their first U-20 caps off the bench, while Clontarf and Leinster prop Charlie Ward has recovered from the hamstring injury which meant he was unable to line out as a replacement against the Australians.
Meanwhile, Italy head coach Fabio Roselli has made six personnel changes and one positional switch to his starting XV. Scoring three converted tries, the Azzurrini came agonisingly close to defeating perennial finalists England last weekend, with a 73rd-minute penalty from Josh Hodge splitting the sides – 24-23.
Paolo Garbisi, the scorer of Italy’s final try the last day, and Alessandro Fusco are restored at half-back after starting there in the 36-12 reversal at the hands of Australia. Experienced Calvisano centre Damiano Mazza comes in to win his 16th cap at this level, while Padova’s Jacopo Trulla gets the nod on the right wing.
Loosehead Lorenzo Michelini gets his first start of the tournament up front, as does L’Aquila flanker Angelo Maurizi who only turns 19 in December. He combines in the back row with ever-present captain Davide Ruggeri and number 8 Antoine Koffi, who both played the full 80 minutes in February’s 34-14 Six Nations loss at home to Ireland.
World Rugby U-20 Championship Results/Fixtures
World Rugby U-20 Championship Pools
ITALY U-20: Ange Capuozzo (Grenoble Espoirs); Jacopo Trulla (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Federico Mori (Rugby Etruschi), Damiano Mazza (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano), Cristian Lai (7 Fradis Rugby); Paolo Garbisi (Mogliano Rugby 1969), Alessandro Fusco (Rugby Napoli Afragola); Lorenzo Michelini (Edinol Biella Rugby), Niccolò Taddia (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Matteo Nocera (Fiamme Oro Rugby), Nicolae-Cristian Stoian (Rugby Anzio), Thomas Parolo (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Angelo Maurizi (Ione Rugby L’Aquila), Davide Ruggeri (Rugby Como) (capt), Antoine Koffi (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano).
Replacements: Andrej Marinello (Ruggers Tarvisium), Matteo Drudi (Frascati Rugby 2015), Luca Franceschetto (Rangers Vicenza), Filippo Alongi (I Titani), Andrea Zambonin (Rangers Rugby Vicenza), Andrea Chianucci (Toscana Aeroporti I Medicei), Mirko Finotto (Mogliano Rugby 1969), Lorenzo Citton (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Giacomo Da Re (Mogliano Rugby 1969), Giulio Bertaccini (Amatori Rugby Parma), Matteo Moscardi (FEMI-CZ Rovigo), Edoardo Mastandrea (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michael Mba (Rugby Casale).
IRELAND U-20: Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster); Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster), Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster) (capt), Cormac Foley (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster); Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster), Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht); Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster), Ciaran Booth (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster).
Replacements: Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster), Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht), Luke Clohessy (Shannon/Munster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster), Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster), David Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD/Leinster), Max O’Reilly (Dublin University/Leinster).
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Ben Blain (Scotland), Julian Montenegro (Argentina)
Television Match Official: Ian Smith (Australia)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Italy U-20s to win: 9/2; Draw: 25/1; Ireland U-20s to win: 1/7
Pre-Match Quotes – Noel McNamara (Ireland U-20s):
We are proud of the effort the players put in on Saturday against Australia given the circumstances, and the character they showed throughout the contest has to be commended. We’ve no doubt that they will dig deep again on Wednesday against the Italians.
“Looking ahead to tomorrow, Italy are a very good side and they showed that against England on Saturday (in a narrow 24-23 defeat). They have been consistently competitive at this tournament over the last number of years.
“The players are excited about the opportunity to get back out to play, and the focus is entirely on delivering a performance.”
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
In Pics: Ireland Under-20s Undone By Australia’s Strong Finish
McNamara’s Troops Regroup For Pool Finale Against Italy
Recent Meetings –
2017: Under-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
2019: Under-20 Six Nations: Italy U-20s 14 Ireland U-20s 34, Stadio Centro d’Italia, Rieti
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