Ireland U-18 Schools Squad Confirmed For 5 Nations Tournament

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_20478.php

This year's U-18 5 Nations Festival takes place in Llandovery RFC in Wales from the 2nd to 10th of April.


Ireland U-18 Schools Squad (5 Nations Festival, Llandovery, Wales, April 2nd to April 10th)


Backs (13) -
Luke McGrath (St Michael's College)
Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh)
Patrick Jackson (Methodist College)
Sam Coghlan Murray (Newbridge College)
Mark Corballis (St Michael's College)
Aaron Thomas (Castleknock College)
Stephen Macauley (Clongowes Wood College)
Cathal Marsh (St Michael's College)
Ritchie McMaster (Coleraine Academical Institution)
Peter Nelson (Royal School Dungannon)
Garret O'Suilleabhain (Clongowes Wood College)
Charlie Simpson (Ballymena Academy)
JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell College)

Forwards (14) -
Adam Clarkin (Terenure College)
Aaron Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid)
Eoghan Cross (Crescent Community College)
Conor Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood College)
Jack Conan (St Gerard's School)
Daniel Qualter (Sligo Grammar School)
Rory Harrison (Methodist College)
Kyle McCall (Wallace High School)
Des Merrey (The King's Hospital)
James Rael (Castletroy Community College)
Peter Reilly (Castleknock College)
Niall Scannell (Presentation College Cork)
Yasin Browne (CBC)
Shane Buckley (Rockwell College)

Ireland U18 Schools Management
Terry McMaster - Coach
Kenneth Hooks - Assistant Coach
Gabriel Fulcher - Assistant Coach
Lorcan Balfe - Manager
Ozzie Fogarty - Doctor
David Lyons - Physio
Chris Shields - Fitness Advisor
Matthew Maguire - Team Assistant

Fixtures
Friday 2 April
Ireland v Wales 14:00hrs
Scotland v England 16:00hrs
Tuesday 6 April
England v Ireland 14:00hrs
Scotland v Italy 16:00hrs
Saturday 10 April
Wales v Italy 14:00hrs
Scotland v Ireland 16:00hrs

There are some very talented players in that squad, especially in the backs. Just before Christmas this squad won by 60-3 against Italy u18s. A few others like St Michaels flyhalf Cathal Marsh and St Gerards Jack Conan had hugely impressive Senior Cup campaigns.

It remains to be seen how they fare against the other nations. England appear to be very strong - George Ford their flyhalf is going to be some player.

Provincial breakdown:
Connacht - 2
Leinster - 12
Munster -6
Ulster - 7

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_20501.php

PBC Cork prop Niall Scannell, who captained the Ireland Schools team to a 60-3 win over Italy in December, will again lead the side as they look to get the tournament off to a winning start.

Scannell was a member of the Irish squad that secured wins over Wales (22-15) and Italy (29-3) in last year's U-18 Festival in Parma. Fellow front rower Rory Harrison, winger Sam Coghlan Murray, scrum half Harry Doyle and lock Shane Buckley are also back from twelve months ago.

Encouragingly, out of last year's Irish Schools panel, Andrew Conway, Tiernan O'Halloran, Brendan Macken, Jamies McKinney, Gareth Quinn McDonogh, Niall Annett, David Doyle and Jordi Murphy have all gone on to be part of Ireland's recent Six Nations Championship-winning Under-20 squad.

The 2010 Schools squad boasts representatives from all four of the recently-crowned provincial Schools Cup champions - Clongowes Wood, Presentation Brothers College, Cork, Ballymena Academy and Colaiste Iognaid.

Head coach Terry McMaster has opted to stick with the same back-line that impressed against Italy in Donnybrook four months ago, with Peter Nelson and JJ Hanrahan combining in the centre and Paddy Jackson and Luke McGrath teamed together at half-back.

The all-Munster second row partnership of Yasin Browne and Shane Buckley has been retained, as well as the exciting back row trio of Adam Clarkin, Aaron Conneely and Daniel Qualter.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Team & Replacements (v Wales Under-18s, U-18 Five Nations Festival, Llandovery RFC, Wales, Friday, April 2, kick-off 2pm):

15. Charlie Simpson (Ballymena Academy)
14. Stephen Macauley (Clongowes Wood College)
13. Peter Nelson (Royal School Dungannon)
12. JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell College)
11. Sam Coghlan Murray (Newbridge College)
10. Paddy Jackson (Methodist College)
9. Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College)
1. Rory Harrison (Methodist College)
2. James Rael (Castletroy Community College)
3. Niall Scannell (Presentation Brothers College, Cork) (capt)
4. Yasin Browne (Christian Brothers College, Cork)
5. Shane Buckley (Rockwell College)
6. Adam Clarkin (Terenure College)
7. Aaron Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid)
8. Daniel Qualter (Sligo Grammar School)

Replacements (from): Eoghan Cross (Crescent Community College), Conor Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood College), Jack Conan (St. Gerard's School), Kyle McCall (Wallace High School), Des Merrey (The King's Hospital), Peter Reilly (Castleknock College), Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh), Mark Corballis (St. Michael's College), Aaron Thomas (Castleknock College), Cathal Marsh (St. Michael's College), Ritchie McMaster (Coleraine Academical Institution), Garret O'Suilleabhain (Clongowes Wood College).

Breakdown:
Connacht -2
Leinster - 4
Munster - 5
Ulster - 4

It'll be interesting to see how they get on. Generally at u18 level Ireland are smaller physically than their opponents and don't tend to catch up until they're 20 or 21 years old. It may be a couple of years before they show their true potential.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

From the Irish Times

Wales 24 Ireland 18 : IT WOULD be so tempting for one filled with patriotic zeal to concentrate on a remarkable Irish fightback in the opening match of the Under-18 Five Nations Festival at Llandovery, in Wales, yesterday.


That would be to overlook the chasm that existed between these sides for all but the last five minutes. In that narrow window, Ireland managed what they couldn't all game, get workable front foot ball in dangerous areas. Outhalf Patrick Jackson and inside centre JJ Hanrahan showed the benefit of crisp passing to put replacement Conor Gilsenan through for a gallop to the line.

One minute later, wing Sam Coghlan-Murray and fullback Charlie Simpson fixed subsequent defenders to find replacement wing Mark Corballis in enough space to make it tell. Although Jackson was inches wide with the conversion it was now, incredibly, a three-point match – 21-18 – despite the domination of Wales for the greater part of an hour.

Other than two penalties from Jackson, at the start of each half, Wales held all the aces in the physicality of their pack, the playmaking of outhalf Matthew Morgan and the power running of centre George North, who started the scoreboard rolling with a hard line on to Morgan's flat pass in the 15th minute. It could have been far worse, Tom Prydie dropping the ball with the line beckoning. The Welsh scrum was impregnable, the reward for their work located in a try by loosehead Rob Evans, Morgan's conversion making it 14-3 on the stroke of half-time.

Wales owned the ball, if not quite all the territory, as Jackson sent them into retreat whenever the ball came loose, managing to pick off another penalty in the process. Then, North crossed for his second try in the 50th minute, Morgan dissecting the posts for a 21-6 lead. It looked all over bar the shouting before Ireland rallied.

WALES: T Prydie; H Robinson, G North, L Williams, S Campbell; M Morgan, A Davies; R Evans, J Dando, S Lee, C Hill, L Hamilton, O Sheppeard, T Young (capt), D Baker. Replacements: E Jenkins for Sheppeard, C Thomas for Young (both 44 mins); D Harris for Evans, W Jones for Lee (both 53 mins); J Griffen for Morgan (57 mins); L Bellamore for Casmpbell (60 mins); M Screech for Hamilton (63 mins).
IRELAND: C Simpson (Ballymena); S MacAuley (Clongowes Wood), P Nelson (Royal, Dungannon), JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell), S Coghlan-Murray (Newbridge); P Jackson (Methodist), L McGrath (St Michael's); R Harrison (Methodist), J Rael (Castletroy), N Scannell (PBC Cork, capt), Y Browne (CBC Cork), S Buckley (Rockwell), A Clarkin (Terenure), A Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid), D Qualter (Sligo Grammar). Replacements: K McCall (Wallace High) for Rael halftime; C Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood) for Conneely 37 mins; M Corballis (St Michael's) for MacAuley, J Conan (St Gerard's) for Buckley both 46 mins.
Referee: L Pearce (England).

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS 17 ENGLAND UNDER-18 41, Llandovery RFC
Scorers: Ireland: Try: Niall Scannell; Pens: Paddy Jackson 3; Drop: Cathal Marsh
Wales: Tries: Koree Britton, Charlie Walker, Chris Walker, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Ben Ransom; Cons: George Ford 4; Pen: George Ford
It never pays to play the poor mouth these days. Ireland has learned to thrive in an environment where their resources are a fraction of those enjoyed by the larger nations.

However, the sheer physical size and volume of the players on offer to England made this a boys-versus-men encounter.
The Irish pack was working against a 55 kilos concession in weight - that is 17 stones in old money. This included the presence of 127 kilos, or 20 stones, blindside flanker in Billy Vunipola.

England were driven by the internal goal to achieve an Under-18 Grand Slam, having already beaten France (33-16), Italy (28-12), Wales (43-22) and Scotland (29-9) this season, as well as a 30-28 victory over Australian Schools in December.

Immediately, lock Shane Buckley was pinged for going off his feet at the first ruck. England out-half George Ford, the son of former Ireland defence coach Mike Ford, booted it home for a first minute lead.

Straight away, swift lineout ball from Conor Gilsenan at the tail and Paddy Jackson's strong line onto the ball drew a penalty for hands in the ruck by openside flanker Chris Walker. Jackson tied it up from in front of the posts.

Then, Ford's inch perfect diagonal kick forced a lineout from which hooker Koree Britton eventually barrelled to the line for Ford to convert in the sixth minute.

Still, the signals were so much better for Ireland than in the first game against Wales. The Irish scavenged manically at the breakdown.
Full-back Ross Jones countered from a poor clearance at the end of which out-half Cathal Marsh stroked over a drop goal.
The danger for Ireland came when England were able to get a foothold in their half and go through their well-practiced moves.
From one, the back-line opened the door for left winger Charlie Walker to be the extra man out wide for their second try and a 15-6 advantage.

When Irish captain Niall Scannell was jerked back after coming through the middle of a ruck to hack the ball on, Jackson nailed his third penalty in the 26th minute.

The swarming Irish were there to earn a penalty for holding on when England full-back Ben Ransom tried to run from deep. Jackson was on the mark from the right on the half-hour mark.

If Ireland could hold out until the break they would be in good nick, even into the teeth of the wind. But this was a scenario that unfortunately did not play out.
A wheeled scrum led to lost ball and an England lineout five metres out. They were able to engineer a drive for number 7 Walker to touch down to make it 20-12 at the interval.

Out-half Marsh's perfect pass set Ireland alight, Sam Coghlan Murray beating his man only to go himself instead of making use of the unopposed Mark Corballis. It was so near and yet so far.

They came again. The handling was a delight. The Irish were oozing football, keeping it simple, moving the ball away from England's heavy hitters and into the open spaces. They just needed a try. It did not come.

Ford's precise kick forced Ireland into the concession of a lineout close to their line. When the catch and drive did notwork, the out-half's side door pass was taken home by centre Elliot Daly. Ford's conversion made it 27-12 in the 50th minute.

It was starting to look one-sided. Ford got the better of his opposite number Marsh for their fifth try which he also converted.
Then, full-back Ben Ransom had the wheels to take advantage of a slip in concentration from the Irish, with Ford again adding the extras.

Encouragingly, the Irish never stopped dipping their shoulders into the tackle and they got a semblance of reward for their application when Coghlan Murray sparked a last-minute attack.
Replacement JJ Hanrahan's accurate diagonal kick was caught and touched down by skipper Scannell to end the match on a positive note.

Ireland: R Jones (Castleknock); M Corballis (St Michael's), P Nelson (Royal, Dungannon), P Jackson (Methodist), S Coghlan-Murray (Newbridge); C Marsh (St Michael's), L McGrath (St Michael's); R Harrison (Methodist), N Scannell (PBC Cork, capt), K McCall (Wallace High), J Conan (St Gerard's), S Buckley (Rockwell), A Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid), C Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood), D Qualter (Sligo Grammar).

Replacements: P Reilly (Castleknock) for McCall 22 mins – temp & 50 mins; D Merrey (King's Hospital) for Harrison ht; S MacAuley (Clongowes Wood) for Corballis 55 mins; Harrison for Merrey 55 mins; JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell) for Nelson 60 mins; E Cross (Crescent) for Conneely 66 mins; R McMaster (Coleraine AI) for Marsh, H Doyle (Royal, Armagh) for McGrath both 67 mins.

England: B Ransom; M Yarde, E Daly, R Mills, Charlie Walker; G Ford (capt), J Hodgson; N Auterac, K Britton, A Brennan, D Barrow, S Twomey, B Vunipola, Chris Walker, M Kvesic.

Replacements: D Robson for Hodgson 40 mins; W Skuse for Chris Walker, K Sinckler for Brennan both 43 mins; M Jennings for Yarde 55 mins; J Elliot for Daly 59 mins; N Morris for Britton, G Merrick for Twomey both 61 mins.
Referee: C Williams, Wales.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS 28 SCOTLAND UNDER-18 24, Llandovery RFC
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Sam Coghlan Murray, Peter Nelson, Ross Jones; Cons: Paddy Jackson 2; Pens: Paddy Jackson 2; Drop: Ritchie McMaster
Scotland: Tries: Harry Leonard 2; Con: Harry Leonard; Pens: Mark Bennett 4
It would be fair to say Ireland frontloaded their first choice players for the gigantic challenges posed by Wales and England in the first two matches.

Scotland, on the other hand, saved their best for last, the midweek stroll against Italy allowing their management to rest players ahead of an encounter they would have targeted in the same way that the Irish prepared for them.

This juggling of resources on both sides - a competition rule dictates that every squad player must start at least one match - made the Scots slight favourites.

Ireland captain Niall Scannell joined Sam Coghlan Murray and Paddy Jackson in starting all three matches. But, the Cork front rower also managed the unique achievement of starting in all three positions from one to three.

It was a frantic start, patterns and structure going out the window as mistakes ruled the opening minutes. Eventually, a lofted ball was taken by Ireland's Ross Jones only for the full-back to become isolated on the counter.
He held on too long on the ground and Scotland's Mark Bennett made it 3-0 from a 30-metre penalty in the fourth minute.

Straight away, Bennett doubled the deficit for the Irish when he struck from halfway on account of an offside.

Skipper Scannell and lock Yasin Browne got on the ball from the restart. Scotland showed they were not in full control of their defence either by needlessly conceding a penalty which centre Paddy Jackson kicked.

Then, centre Bennett twice beat the first man up to give Scotland momentum and out-half Harry Leonard faked a long pass left, darting inside the Irish defence to make it 11-3 in the 19th minute.
Once again, Ireland's reply was swift, out-half Ritchie McMaster working off a solid platform to land a drop goal from straight in front of the posts.

Bennett was back at it again, sending replacement Mitch Eadie through the middle to draw a penalty from the scrambling Irish cover and then kicking the ensuing penalty for a 14-6 gap by the 25th minute.

The Irish just lacked sparkle. Still, blindside flanker Ben Johnstone could not resist the temptation to play the ball off his feet.
Jackson kept Ireland in touch from left of the posts, before Bennett blasted over when Conor Gilsenan strayed offside at a lineout to make it 17-9 at the break.

Ireland showed greater intensity on the resumption. They were helped by a couple of canny introductions from the bench in Luke McGrath, JJ Hanrahan and Aaron Conneely.
Winger Coghlan Murray carved up the midfield for replacement Peter Nelson to score with his first touch. Jackson added the extras in the 40th minute.

Suddenly, the Irish were moving the ball out of the tackle, fixing defenders and creating space. A Jackson half-break was all that was needed for Coghlan Murray to steam onto a flat pass for Ireland's second converted try, four minutes later, for a 23-17 turnaround.

A period of high pace rugby concluded with Coghlan Murray streaking clear to get in behind the cover and full-back Jones showing great strength and commitment to make it into the right corner. Jackson's conversion came back off the upright.

Scotland snatched a late consolation try through out-half Leonard, who also knocked over the conversion in injury-time, but Ireland held on to claim a morale-boosting win.

IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS: Ross Jones (Castleknock College); Stephen Macauley (Clongowes Wood College), Garret O'Suilleabhain (Clongowes Wood College), Paddy Jackson (Methodist College) (vice capt, Sam Coghlan Murray (Newbridge College); Ritchie McMaster (Coleraine Academical Institution), Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh); Niall Scannell (Presentation Brothers College, Cork) (capt), James Rael (Castletroy Community College), Peter Reilly (Castleknock College), Yasin Browne (Christian Brothers College, Cork), Daniel Qualter (Sligo Grammar School), Eoghan Cross (Crescent Community College), Conor Gilsenan (Clongowes Wood College), Jack Conan (St. Gerard's School).

Replacements used: JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell College) for McMaster (34 mins), Aaron Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid) for Cross (half-time), Peter Nelson (Royal School Dungannon) for O'Suilleabhain, Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College) for Doyle (both 40), Shane Buckley (Rockwell College) for Conan (47), Adam Clarkin (Terenure College) for Gilsenan (61), Gary McConnell (Sligo Grammar School) for Rael (69).

SCOTLAND U-18: Stuart Hogg (Heriot's); Harris Jones (Boroughmuir), Michael Crawley (Stewart's Melville College), Mark Bennett (Cumnock RFC), Aidan McCall Hagan (West of Scotland); Harry Leonard (Brighton College), Murray McConnell (Lenzie Academy/West of Scotland) (capt); Robin Hislop (Hawick Wanderers), Jack Macfarlane (Gourock High School/Greenock Wanderers), Alex Allan (Sedbergh), Andrew Redmayne (Kilmarnock), Stuart Smith (North Berwick), Ben Johnstone (Stewart's Melville College), Adam de Ste Croix (Boroughmuir), Lawrie Seydak (Edinburgh Academy).

Replacements used: Mitch Eadie (Filton College) for Redmayne (15 mins), George Turner (Stewart's Melville College) for Macfarlane (half-time), Jamie Stevenson (Whitgift) for McConnell (58), Jamie Urquhart (Stirling County) for Bennett (63), Andrew Hall (Strathallan) for Jones (68).

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)