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Six NationsIreland

Scott Penny to start at openside as Ireland U20s team named

The Ireland U20s in action last year in the Ricoh Arena

Head Coach Noel McNamara has named the Ireland U20 side, sponsored by PwC, to take on England in the opening game of the U20 Six Nations.

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In the front-row, props Josh Wycherley and Thomas Clarkson will start alongside hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin, who wins his second U20 cap having made his debut at last season’s U20 World Championships.

Charlie Ryan, who returns for his second U20 Six Nations campaign, starts in the second row alongside Niall Murray.

Martin Moloney, Scott Penny and Number 8 John Hodnett are named in the back row. Scrum-half Craig Casey will partner out-half Harry Byrne, who is set to win his 11th U20 cap.

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Captain David Hawkshaw partners Liam Turner the centre. Jake Flannery starts at full-back, with Conor Phillips and Jonathan Wren lining out on the wings.

Ahead of the Ireland U20s debut test in Cork, McNamara said;

“The players have prepared very well since we first came together before Christmas. We had a good camp last week in Cork and are looking forward to the challenge that England will bring this Friday night.

We have a very talented group of players in the squad, and there were a number of tight calls on selection for this game. There is a lot of rugby to be played over the coming weeks and months, so the competitiveness in the squad is a real positive and bodes well for the season ahead.

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Everyone involved is excited to be heading to Irish Independent Park for this opening fixture. It’s a great venue, with a nice fast pitch and we’re looking forward to getting the campaign underway in front of an energetic and lively crowd in Cork.”

Ireland U20 v England U20, U20 Six Championship, Irish Independent Park, Cork. Kick-Off: 7.15pm

15. Jake Flannery (Shannon RFC / Munster)
14. Conor Phillips (Young Munster RFC / Munster)
13. Liam Turner (Dublin University FC / Leinster)
12. David Hawkshaw (Clontarf FC / Leinster) Captain
11. Jonathan Wren (Cork Constitution FC / Munster)
10. Harry Byrne (Lansdowne FC / Leinster)*
9. Craig Casey (Shannon RFC / Munster)

1. Josh Wycherley (Young Munster RFC / Munster)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (Corinthians RFC / Connacht)*
3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University FC / Leinster)
4. Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC / Leinster)*
5. Niall Murray (Buccaneers RFC / Connacht)
6. Martin Moloney (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)
7. Scott Penny (UCD RFC / Leinster)
8. John Hodnett (UCC RFC / Munster)

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Replacements:
16. John McKee (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster)
17. Michael Milne (UCD RFC / Leinster)
18. Ryan Lomas (Galwegians RFC / Connacht)
19. Brian Deeny (Clontarf FC / Leinster)
20. David McCann (Banbridge RFC / Ulster)
21. Cormac Foley (St.Mary’s College RFC / Munster)
22. Sean French (Cork Constitution FC / Munster)
23. Rob Russell (Dublin University FC / Munster)

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Comments on RugbyPass

F
Flankly 11 minutes ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

Fair comments.

17 Go to comments
F
Flankly 15 minutes ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

Agree.

7 Go to comments
N
Nik 25 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Earl

Willis

Underhill


Fixes the balance if you use Tom instead of Jack

5 Go to comments
O
OJohn 45 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Obviously Borthwick is the problem. He's inflexible. It's his way or the highway. Trouble is he's going the wrong way.

14 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Fiji vs Ireland | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Fiji. 1 point.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

I tend to agree with Campese. This is probably the last chance Eben has of winning the award. But man, Cheslin and PSDT have been sublime.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Possibly. But this welsh team is no better than a good URC team at this point.


But a tough match is what is needed for the inexperienced in the group. Building depth etc.


Nobody learns anything pumping a team by 50.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rob Howley: Warren Gatland is 'the best coach in the world'

Jeepers. That’s a nuclear response given the context.


By all means back the man. But there’s no need to go overboard with calling him the world best coach.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

He played a big role, as director of rugby prior to stepping in as coach, putting systems in place. He’s been involved in many of these players careers since they were teens or debutants at their provincial teams.


So I agree with you 100% it’s not Gatlands fault the pipeline of players is poor.

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Rassie is going to coach the boks until he’s 65. Never get tired of this.


I said a while ago that a South African would do well with Wales. Similar philosophy to the game. Perhaps Johan should do a stint at Wales?

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

It could be about the cut. It doesn’t seem wise to risk a reinjury.


Also an opportunity to give others a run.

7 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

It a hypothesis sure, perhaps Felix has a sweet deal lined up somewhere else. But I also don’t think he’d say something about that environment if it wasn’t true. He doesn’t strike me as a douche.

14 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Just a hypothesis. What on earth else could be the issue with regards to the environment as claimed by Felix?

14 Go to comments
J
JM 1 hour ago
'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

You start off talking about physicality and then quickly segue to intensity as if they're the same thing.

If you think the Premiership isn't physical then you're either a fool, or being disingenuous.

One of the issues the Premiership does have when it comes to intensity is that the bonus point structure makes the last 20 minutes of lots of games meaningless. Everyone's wrapped up their points, benches are cleared, the quality of the game deteriorates, and what could be tense conclusions end up just petering out.

12 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.


Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.

5 Go to comments
T
Toaster 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

As an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify

The Boks are the best and just know how to win

And their depth is incredible now

And when they don’t they lose late on by one point


The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)


But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive


Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank

These things happen


The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely


But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress


So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy

A loss drops it to C- !!

Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all

29 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.


I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.

5 Go to comments
T
Tom 2 hours ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

I'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.

17 Go to comments
E
EV 2 hours ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

You miss the point. There is no pipeline of players. A coach cannot change that. That is up to the Welsh RFU, which have failed.


Rassie is a clever bugger, no doubt, but the Boks could play 52 players this year because of the systems they have put in place to find and develop players from schoolboy level up.

20 Go to comments
E
EV 2 hours ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Rassie is ruling the roost because he put systems in place to find and develop the best players from schoolboy level up. Its an entire system and organisation that now, several years down the line, presents him with a pipeline of battle ready talent.


Wales lacks this, lacks a Director of Rugby. Firing Gatland won't change this fact. He is an world class coach. If anything Abi Tierney should be shipped out for failing to put these systems in place over the last 11 months.

20 Go to comments
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