Ireland U-20 Team To Play France

[Jockstap]

Ireland head coach Allen Clarke has named the same starting line-up that took on Scotland back in March when they sealed the RBS 6 Nations U-20 Championship ***le with a 44-15 win. Flanker Rhys Ruddock will again captain the team, having led them to victory over Italy, Wales, England and Scotland already this season.
The Irish replacements bench includes the fit-again Brian O'Hara and Noel Reid who did not feature in the Six Nations, along with winger Darren Hudson who scored four tries during the Championship.
Looking forward to Saturday's opener against France, who beat Ireland 20-15 in Mazamet in February, Ruddock said: "We can't wait. We've been working towards this for a long time, since the end of the Six Nations.
"It'll just be good to get the first game underway, put a few things to bed and have a cut at France.
"I suppose there's expectations of us to do well in the tournament, because we performed well in the Six Nations.
"We're in a very tough group, three really difficult games to start off. Any of the teams are capable of beating each other.
"Although there's expectations, there's a sort of realistic understanding that it could go either way in any of the games."
Ireland's pool fixtures in Argentina will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports Ireland and Sky Sports, with coverage also available on the official tournament website.
IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v France, IRB Junior World Championship, Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario, Saturday, June 5, kick-off 2.10pm local time/6.10pm Irish time):
15 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 - Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht)
13 - Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht)
12 - Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
10 - James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster)
9 - John Cooney (UCD/Leinster)
1 - Jack O'Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 - Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4 - David O'Callaghan (UCC/Munster)
5 - Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster)
6 - Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
7 - Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8 - Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)
Replacements:
16 - David Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
17 - Bryan Cagney (UCC/Munster)
18 - Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 - Brian O'Hara (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20 - Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21 - Noel Reid (UCD/Leinster)
22 - Darren Hudson (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
IRELAND'S POOL B FIXTURES:
Saturday, June 5: Ireland v France, Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario, 2.10pm local time (6.10pm Irish time)
Wednesday, June 9: Ireland v England, Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario, 2.10pm local time (6.10pm Irish time)
Sunday, June 13: Argentina v Ireland, Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Rosario, 4.10pm local time (8.10pm Irish time)

 

[Jockstap]

Strong team, half of them have already had Magners League experience. Is Macken injured or just dropped?

 

[Feicarsinn]

8 Leinster lads in the starting XV, but only two in the backs. Weird how things have been going lately. It's a pretty strong team. I'd expect a semi final berth out of them at least.

 

[MunsterMan]

SAVAGE back row, with O'Hara on the bench :O Definite are of strength. Good to see Griffin ahead of Macken too, much more intelligent player.

Very tough pool, but this team could go a long way.

 

[dangandan]

is david o'callaghan related to donncha o'callaghan by any chance?

 

[Jockstap]

is david o'callaghan related to donncha o'callaghan by any chance?

No, he does kinda look like him though, he looks another excellent prospect.

 

[dangandan]

No, he does kinda look like him though, he looks another excellent prospect.

yeah he does. maybe hes a clone. O'Callaghan V2.0 new and improved lol

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

That's a very talented team. With three games in quick succession, I suspect Brian Hayes, Brian O'Hara, Noel Reid, Brendan Macken and Darren Hudson will all play a big part in the tournament despite not starting on Saturday.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Yeah absolutely cracking back row. Ruddock and Ryan gave the Killer Bs a serious run for their money when they played for Leinster against Glasgow this season. Fantastic back 3 as well.

 

[MunsterMan]

O'Hara was named as captain at the start of the season and played in the WC last year, he may not be fully fit but he is a serious player too. It's not just the quality of the first choice back row but the depth in the position too. Butler is an incredible 8 for his age too, standout player of the 6N imo.

 

[coonor]

This team looks strong and will be looking to beat the French who magnaged to deny them a Grand Slam.