The Ireland Under-20s’ encounter with Wales is one of two all-Six Nations ties on the opening day of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Manchester, as Nigel Carolan’s young side tackle this year’s Grand Slam champions.
2016 WORLD RUGBY UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – POOL A: Tuesday, June 7
WALES UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Manchester City Academy Stadium, 5.30pm (live TG4/TG4 Player/Sky Sports 1 HD)
Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Nigel Carolan has named the team to face Wales in Pool A of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.
Captained by Lansdowne and Leinster ‘A’ second row James Ryan, Ireland’s matchday squad contains four players who are uncapped at Under-20 level.
St. Mary’s College back rower David Aspil and Garryowen out-half Bill Johnston will win their first U-20 caps when they run out in Manchester, while front row forwards Vincent O’Brien and Vakh Abdaladze will be looking to make their debuts off the bench.
Fellow front rowers Andrew Porter and Adam McBurney will be appearing in their second World Rugby U-20 Championship, having played in last summer’s tournament in Italy. Buccaneers tighthead Conor Kenny completes the front row.
Captain Ryan is partnered in the second row by Sligo’s Cillian Gallagher, who moves into the number 4 jersey having played at flanker during this year’s U-20 RBS Six Nations.
The back row is comprised of newcomer Aspil, Lansdowne number 8 Max Deegan and UCD’s Greg Jones. Sligo scrum half Stephen Kerins partners Johnston at half-back, with Conor O’Brien and Shane Daly renewing their centre partnership from the Six Nations campaign.
The back-three features Belfast Harlequins and Ulster full-back Jacob Stockdale, who is the third member of the squad appearing at his second U-20 Championship, and wingers Matthew Byrne (Terenure College) and Hugo Keenan (UCD).
The match, which will be broadcast live on TG4 and Sky Sports 1 HD, kicks off at 5.30pm and will be refereed by New Zealand’s Paul Williams.
Meanwhile, Wales U-20 boss Jason Strange has made just one change and two positional switches to the side that clinched the Under 20 Six Nations Grand Slam by beating Italy 35-6 at Colwyn Bay in March.
Ospreys winger Tom Williams, returning to full fitness, earns his first Wales U-20 cap for the clash with Ireland. He starts on the right wing with Joe Thomas moving to outside centre in place of Owen Watkin and Harri Millard switching to inside centre.
On the bench, Liam Belcher, Seb Davies and Josh Macleod also return to full fitness to take up places in the matchday 23, Macleod set to make his Wales U-20 debut if he comes off the bench.
World Rugby U-20 Championship – Ticket Information
World Rugby U-20 Championship Fixtures
WALES U-20: Rhun Williams (Cardiff Blues); Tom Williams (Ospreys), Joe Thomas (Ospreys), Harri Millard (Cardiff Blues), Keelan Giles (Ospreys); Daniel Jones (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys); Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Tom Phillips (Scarlets) (capt), Shaun Evans (Scarlets), Harrison Keddie (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Liam Belcher (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets), Leon Brown (Newport Gwent Dragons), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Declan Smith (Scarlets), Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues), Billy McBryde (Scarlets).
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), Conor Kenny (Buccaneers/Connacht), 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), Ben Betts (Young Munster/Munster), 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: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Phil Watters (England)
Television Match Official: Trevor Fisher (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Wales U-20s to win: 3/10; Draw: 20/1; Ireland U-20s to win: 13/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Nigel Carolan (Ireland U-20s): “The game against Wales is a hugely important test for this team and we’ve been building towards it since we came together as a squad a number of weeks ago. Wales are the Grand Slam champions so it’s going to be a challenging game, but one the players are looking forward to.
“There’s a good mix to the team that’s been selected – the likes of Andrew, Adam and Jacob were here last year and can bring that experience into the squad, while there will also be some players winning new caps and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can do in the green jersey.”
Jason Strange (Wales U-20s): “We are pleased to be able to have such consistency in our selection from our Six Nations campaign. We’ve had a great period of training and preparation and the players are now really looking forward to their first match.
“We know it will take a real team effort to do well against Ireland. After beating them in Dublin, they produced some impressive performances to beat England away and Scotland at home. We are focusing on our strengths and on our own performance. We know that if we play to the best of our ability and we stick to our principles of playing attractive rugby, we will be a competitive force.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland Under-20s Beaten By Wales In Thrilling Seven-Try Clash
World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool A Preview
Where To Watch The 2016 World Rugby U-20 Championship
Recent Meetings –
2014: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Ireland U-20s 0 Wales U-20s 16, Dubarry Park; IRB Junior World Championship Pool B: Wales U-20s 21 Ireland U-20s 35, ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
2015: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Wales U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 12, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay; World Rugby U-20 Championship – 5th/8th Place Play-Off: Ireland U-20s 12 Wales U-20s 22, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana
2016: U-20 RBS 6 Nations: Ireland U-20s 24 Wales U-20s 35, Donnybrook
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