4 Munster Players In U20 Side To Face Scots

Four Munster representatives are named in the Ireland U20 side to play Scotland U20 in the second round of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Calvisano tomorrow afternoon – KO 3.30 pm Irish time.

Stephen Fitzgerald and Tomás Quinlan are again included in the matchday squad while Conor Oliver and Liam O’Connor are selected for the first time in the campaign.

Fitzgerald has just completed his first year in the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy while yesterday it was announced that Quinlan, Oliver and O’Connor are to join the Academy ranks in the coming season.

O’Connor, who featured for Munster ‘A’ this season, is in line to make his first appearance for the Ireland U20 side.

In total, Head Coach Nigel Carolan has made four changes to the side that overcame Argentina 18-16 in their last outing.

Ciaran Gaffney is named on the wing, having recovered from an ankle injury he picked up before the first game, to partner Stephen Fitzgerald with Billy Dardis at full back. There is no change in the centre partnership, with Garry Ringrose and Sam Arnold taking charge of the midfield. Captain, Nick McCarthy starts at scrumhalf with Joey Carbery named at outhalf.

Up front, Andrew Porter and Sean McNulty make their first start of the tournament in joining Oisin Heffernan in the front row. David O'Connor and Alex Thompson take their positions in the second row while Josh Murphy and Lorcan Dow are joined by Conor Oliver in the back row.

Carolan said "We had a shaky start to the tournament but it's good to have the win under our belt.”

"We narrowly lost to Scotland during the Six Nations this year so we are aware of the challenge ahead of us. We know we have a tough battle on our hands, but that's what we have prepared for.”

"We are all looking forward to the game and hopefully we can perform to our potential.”

This game will be broadcast on TG4.

Ireland U20 (v Scotland Under-20s, 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship – Pool C, Calvisano, Saturday, June 6, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time)

15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
10. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (Capt)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
2. Sean McNulty (UCD/Leinster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster)
4. David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
7. Conor Oliver (St Mary's/ Munster)
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
17. Liam O'Connor (Cork Constitution /Munster) *
18. Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
23. Jacob Stockdale (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

* Denotes uncapped player at international Under-20 level

Ireland Fixtures and Results
Ireland Under-20s 18 v 16 Argentina Under-20s, Parma, Tuesday, June 2, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
Ireland Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s, Calvisano, Saturday, June 6, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time
New Zealand Under-20s v Ireland Under-20s, Viadana, Wednesday, June 10, kick-off 8.30pm local time/7.30pm Irish time

Match Day 4: Play-offs and semi-finals, Monday, June 15
Match Day 5: Play-offs and final, Saturday, June 20