U20

Ireland Under-20s to draw on Grand Slam experience in England opener

Inpho
Ireland head coach Noel McNamara is looking for his side to use their Grand Slam experience when they kick off their World Rugby Under-20 Championships campaign against England.

Ireland head coach Noel McNamara is looking for his side to use their Grand Slam experience when they kick off their World Rugby Under-20 Championships campaign against England.

Ireland claimed the Under-20s Six Nations grown and a maiden clean-sweep at this age level back in March.

But now attentions turn to Argentina, specifically Santa Fe, for their first match of the Championships in Pool B.

McNamara’s side downed England in their opener in the Under-20s Six Nations thanks to two tries from Dylan Tierney-Martin and McNamara hopes his side are ready for more of the same.

“We arrived into Santa Fe on Thursday and the players have settled in really well,” he said.

“They’ve focused on their recovery after the travel and are now looking forward to taking the field and getting things under way.

“We know from the Six Nations that England are a good side and they have a lot of tradition in this tournament, but the primary focus is ourselves and what we control on the day.”

The side sees the familiar front-row of Josh Wycherley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Tom Clarkson.

Packing down behind in them in the second-row are captain Charlie Ryan and Ryan Baird.

The back-row will see David McCann at No.6, John Hodnett at No.7 and Azur Allison will win his first Under-20 cap at No.8.

Craig Casey starts at scrum-half alongside his Shannon RFC clubmate Jake Flannery, who lines out at out-half.

Stewart Moore will earn his first Under-20 cap at centre, where he partners Liam Turner.

The back three sees Jonathan Wren and Angus Kernohan on the wings, with Iwan Hughes set to win his first Under-20 cap from full-back.

World Rugby have introduced a change to how replacements can be used for the Under-20 World Championships, with the remaining squad members outside of the starting XV all allowed to be named on the replacements.

Ireland Under-20 v England Under-20, World Rugby Under-20 World Championship, Pool B, (Club de Rugby Atheneo Immaculada, Santa Fe, Tuesday, 4th June 2019, 3.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time)

15. Iwan Hughes (Ballynahinch/Ulster) * 14. Angus Kernohan (Queen’s University/Ulster) 13. Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster) 12. Stewart Moore (Malone/Ulster) * 11. Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution/Munster) 10. Jake Flannery (Shannon/Munster) 9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)

1. Josh Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster) 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians/Connacht) 3. Tom Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster) 4. Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster) Captain 5. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) 6. David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster) 7. John Hodnett (UCC/Munster) 8. Azur Allison (Ballymena/Ulster) *

Replacements from:

Michael Milne (UCD/Leinster) Declan Adamson (Clontarf/Leinster) * John McKee (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Charlie Ward (Clontarf/Leinster) * Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster) * Niall Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht) Ronan Watters (St.Mary’s College/Leinster) Ciaran Booth (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) * Colm Reilly (Buccaneers/Connacht) Cormac Foley (St.Mary’s College/Leinster) Ben Healy (Garryowen/Munster) Sean French (Cork Constitution/Munster) Rob Russell (Dublin University/Leinster)

*Denotes uncapped at this level