Ireland U20 Side Named For South Africa

Head coach Noel McNamara has named the Ireland Under-20 team, sponsored by PwC, to face South Africa in Sunday’s second round of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Narbonne (kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time).

Garryowen’s Diarmuid Barron maintains his place in the front-row with UCC’s Bryan O’Connor set for his first cap off the bench, as UL Bohemian’s James McCarthy is also named among the replacements.

There are five changes to the side that started the 26-24 defeat to tournament hosts France on Wednesday night, with World Rugby U-20 Championship debutant James Hume joining four of the replacements used in midweek – Conor Dean, Jonny Stewart, Sean O’Brien and Cormac Daly – in the starting XV.

The front-row remains unchanged with prop Jordan Duggan, who was a late change for James French on Wednesday packing down alongside hooker Barron and tighthead Jack Aungier.

Cormac Daly starts alongside and Jack Dunne in the second row, with the back row again consisting of Joe Dunleavy, Matthew Agnew and Number 8 and Captain Caelan Doris.

Jonny Stewart and Conor Dean start at scrum-half and out-half, with James Humecoming into the centre to partner Tommy O’Brien.

Sean O’Brien starts on the left wing, with Tom Roche on the right and Michael Silvesterat full-back.

Ahead of the game, McNamara said: “I think everyone was disappointed that we didn’t come away with the win on Wednesday night, but we’ve taken the positives from the game and looked forward to tomorrow’s match.

“South Africa are a big and physical team so we’re expecting a big battle tomorrow, but one the players are really looking forward to.

“The match will be broadcast live by Eir Sport in the Republic of Ireland and online in non-geoblocked locations via World Rugby’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WordlRugby) and website (www.worldrugby.org).

Injury Update:
James French and Dan Hurley (both knee injuries) have been replaced in the squad by Jakub Wojtkowicz and Peter Sullivan.

IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v South Africa Under-20s, 2018 World Rugby U-20 Championship Pool C, Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne, Sunday, June 3, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time):

15. Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster)
14. Tom Roche (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
12. James Hume (Banbridge/Ulster)
11. Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
10. Conor Dean (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9. Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster)
1. Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster)
2. Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster)
3. Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
4. Cormac Daly (Clontarf/Leinster)
5. Jack Dunne (Dublin University/Leinster)
6. Joe Dunleavy (Malone/Ulster)
7. Matthew Agnew (Ballymena/Ulster)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (Dublin University/Leinster)
17. Bryan O’Connor (UCC/Munster) *
18. Joe Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster)
19. Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
21. Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf/Leinster)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
23. James McCarthy (UL Bohemian/Munster)

* Denotes uncapped player at this level

IRELAND U-20s’ World Rugby Championship Results/Fixtures:

Pool C –

France 26 Ireland 24
Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan, Wednesday, May 30

South Africa v Ireland (live eir Sport 2)
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne, Sunday, June 3, 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time

Ireland v Georgia (live eir Sport 2)
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne, Thursday, June 7, 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time

Semi-Finals –
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne or Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan, Tuesday, June 12

Finals –
Stade de la Mediterranee, Béziers, Sunday, June 17