After getting the better of Wales in a thrilling opening clash, the Ireland Under-20s move on to face defending champions New Zealand in a mouth-watering second round match on Saturday.
2016 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – POOL A: Saturday, June 11
NEW ZEALAND UNDER-20s (1st) v IRELAND UNDER-20s (2nd), Manchester City Academy Stadium, 1.30pm (live TG4/TG4 Player/Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: The Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, has been named to face New Zealand in their second match of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Manchester on Saturday.
Head coach Nigel Carolan has selected a starting line-up that shows just one change to the side that overcame Grand Slam champions Wales on 26-25 scoreline.
Young Munster prop Ben Betts will wear the number 3 jersey in place of the injured Conor Kenny, who has returned home following the shoulder injury he suffered early on against Wales. Dublin University’s James Bollard comes on to the bench as one of the replacement prop.
Ireland will again be captained by Lansdowne and Leinster ‘A’ second row James Ryan, while Clontarf prop Vakh Abdaladze is the only uncapped member of the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, New Zealand U-20 boss Scott Robertson has made three changes in personnel to the side that ran in nine tries past tournament newcomers Georgia in their pool opener.
Jordan Trainor, one of six players with Super Rugby experience in the squad, comes in at full-back with his Waikato team-mate Shaun Stevenson moving to the right wing. Jordie Barrett, younger brother of All Blacks star Beauden Barrett, continues at inside centre.
Elsewhere, Malo Tuitama and Stephen Perofeta get the nod on the left wing and at out-half respectively, with TJ Va’a and Jonah Lowe dropping to the bench for this meeting with Ireland.
The Baby Blacks’ unchanged pack features Hurricanes hooker Leni Apisai, who has the captaincy role, strong-carrying Hawke’s Bay number 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and Waikato flanker Mitchell Jacobson who, incredibly, is back for his third year at this age-grade. Jacobson’s 19-year-old brother Luke starts on the blindside.
World Rugby U-20 Championship – Ticket Information
World Rugby U-20 Championship Fixtures/Results
NEW ZEALAND U-20: Jordan Trainor (Waikato/Blues); Shaun Stevenson (Waikato/Chiefs), Patelesio Tomkinson (Otago/Highlanders), Jordie Barrett (Canterbury), Malo Tuitama (Wellington); Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Sam Nock (Northland/Blues); Ayden Johnstone (Waikato), Leni Apisai (Wellington/Hurricanes) (capt), Sosefo Kautai (Waikato), Quinten Strange (Tasman), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington), Luke Jacobson (Waikato), Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Hawke’s Bay).
Replacements: Asafo Aumua (Wellington), Sean Paranihi (Canterbury), Alex Fidow (Wellington), Hamish Dalzell (Canterbury), Dalton Papali’i (Auckland), Jonathan Taumateine (Counties Manakau), TJ Va’a (Wellington/Hurricanes), Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay).
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); Bill Johnston (Garryowen/Munster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Ben Betts (Young Munster/Munster), Cillian Gallagher (Sligo/Connacht), 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), Vakh Abdaladze (Clontarf/Leinster), James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), Sean O’Connor (Cashel/Munster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster), Niall Saunders (Epsom College/Exiles), Johnny McPhillips (Queen’s University/Ulster), Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster).
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo (Italy), Paul Dix (England)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): New Zealand U-20s to win: 1/33; Draw: 60/1; Ireland U-20s to win: 14/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Nigel Carolan (Ireland U-20s): “It was very pleasing to open the tournament with the win over Wales on Tuesday. While we gave them a big lead early on, I felt that we showed fantastic ambition and fight to get back into the game and we were patient to close out the win in the end.
“New Zealand is a massive game for us. They had a comprehensive (55-0) win over Georgia on Tuesday so they will be going into this game full of confidence.
“Our players have recovered well over the last number of days and are looking forward to the challenge against the current world champions.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland Under-20s Stun Wales With Stirring Comeback Win
New Zealand U-20s Thump Georgia
Coyle Gets Call-Up For Ireland Under-20s
World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool A Preview
Where To Watch The 2016 World Rugby U-20 Championship
Recent Meetings –
2013: IRB Junior World Championship – Pool B: New Zealand U-20s 31 Ireland U-20s 26, Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
2014: IRB Junior World Championship – 3rd/4th Place Play-Off: New Zealand U-20s 45 Ireland U-20s 23, Eden Park, Auckland
2015: World Rugby U-20 Championship – Pool C: New Zealand U-20s 25 Ireland U-20s 3, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
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