JWC Campaign To Date & NZ Preview

As Ireland U20s prepare to face New Zealand in the Pool C decider of the World Rugby U20 Championship, check out video highlights of the Irishmen’s campaign to date and get a preview of this evening’s action in Viadana – KO 7.30pm Irish time.

With two wins from two against Argentina and Scotland respectively, Ireland currently lie second in Pool C, two points adrift of the Championship’s form side New Zealand who have already ran in 13 tries and scored more points (100) than any other team in the tournament.

The three Pool winners along with the best runners-up will progress to the knock out stages. The Baby Blacks, along with England (Pool A), South Africa and Australia (both Pool C) are all on 10 points, with France (Pool A) on 9 points and Ireland on 8 points.

Click here to see a full list of the pools and standings.

CAMPAIGN TO DATE

The Greencore Munster Academy’s Stephen Fitzgerald and new recruit Tomás Quinlan both featured in Ireland’s opening 18-16 win against los Pumitas in Parma, but in a thrilling conclusion to the game, it took a last minute touchline penalty from Quinlan to secure the four points for Ireland. View the match highlights here…

Off to Calvisano for Round 2 where, in extremely warm conditions, the Nigel Carolan’s charges just edged out Scotland in a bruising 24-20 win. Fitzgerald and Quinlan again featured for Ireland – Quinlan landing a penalty – and we’re joined in the matchday 23 by new Munster Academy recruits Conor Oliver and Liam O’Connor.

With Leinster’s Jeremy Loughman ruled out of the Championship due to a broken nose, Cork Constitution’s O’Connor joined up with the squad last Wednesday and went on to make his first U20 appearance against the Scots. View the match highlights here…

IRELAND U20 V NEW ZEALAND U20 PREVIEW

The Ireland U20s will now have to put in their most complete performance of the season if they are to take the scalp of New Zealand this evening and reach the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals.

This game will be televised live on TG4/TG4 Player and BT Sport 2.

With Quinlan and O’Connor again included in the matchday squad, Ireland will line out as follows in Viadana:

15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Jack Owens (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
10. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) – capt.
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
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. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/ Connacht)
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Sean McNulty (UCD/Leinster)
17. Liam O'Connor (Cork Constitution /Munster)
18. Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/ Connacht)
20. Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/ Connacht)
21. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
23. Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/ Leinster)

Looking ahead to the clash, Head Coach Nigel Carolan commented, “This is a big game for both sides, the winner of this will have a guaranteed place in the semi-finals. New Zealand are a good team, so we will need to be brilliant for the full 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance. However, in preparation for a tough battle, we have recovered well from our last outing and have identified some key areas which we hope we can take advantage of.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand U20 boss Scott Robertson has made 12 changes to the starting fifteen from their narrow 32-29 defeat of Argentina last weekend.

Robertson explained, “We've picked a strong line-up which can get us the result we need to finish at the top [of the pool]. Otere Black comes in at 10, along with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi at nine, and we've some solid leadership with Atunaisa Moli to start at captain and Jack Goodhue as our vice-captain.”

Fresh off the plane, centre Anton Lienert-Brown will arrive to watch from the sidelines at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, after being released from the Chiefs. He has replaced Mitchell Karpik who picked up an ankle injury during the game against Argentina.

New Zealand U20: Luteru Laulala (Canterbury); Tevita Li (North Harbour), Jack Goodhue (Canterbury), Nathaniel Apa (Canterbury), Vincent Tavae-Aso (Auckland); Otere Black (Manawatu), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki); Isileli Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Liam Polwart (Auckland), Atunaisa Moli (Waikato) (capt), Joshua Goodhue (Canterbury), Hamish Dalzell (Canterbury), James Blackwell (Wellington), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Akira Ioane (Auckland).

Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli (Hawke's Bay), Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty), Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato), Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Henry Stowers (Wellington), Harrison Levien (Waikato), Tinoai Faiane (Auckland), Mitchell Hunt (Auckland)

New Zealand U20s v Ireland U20s, World Rugby U20 Championship Pool C, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – KO 7.30pm Irish time.