Six Munster Players Start For Ireland U20s

Six Munster players have been included in the Ireland Under-20 starting XV to face France on Friday night in the final game of the 2014 U20 Six Nations.

Academy scrum-half Jack Cullen and academy winger Alex Wootton are both drafted into the side with Young Munster's Dan Goggin, UL Bohemians' Jack O’Donoghue and the Cork Con front-row duo of Max Abbott and Rory Burke all keeping their places.

Sean McNulty of UCD maintains his place on the bench and will be hoping for more game-time after impressing in the final 25 minutes against Italy last week.

Abbott and Burke start their fifth game of the Championship with O'Donoghue making his fourth start after missing the game against England through injury.

Ireland under-20 coach Mike Ruddock has made three personnel and one positional change from the team that beat Italy last weekend.

Cian Kelleher switches from the wing to full-back with David Busby taking a place among the replacements and Garryowen's Wootton coming into the side on the wing.

The UCD half-back combination of Nick McCarthy and Ross Byrne are replaced by Cullen from Bruff and Lansdowne's Conor McKeon.

Sean O'Brien continues in the role of captain, a win for Ireland U20s will secure a top half finish and deny the French the Grand Slam.

Ireland Under-20 Head Coach, Mike Ruddock, commented, "The result against Italy got us back on track and this weekend we face a strong French outfit that are going for the Grand Slam.

"We have brought in a couple of new faces and there is an opportunity for these players to show what they can deliver against quality opposition.”

IRELAND U20s v France U20s – 2014 RBS 6 Nations Championship

15. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne – Leinster)
14. Alex Wootton (Garryowen – Munster)
13. Dan Goggin (Young Munster – Munster)
12. Peter Robb (Old Belvedere RFC – Leinster)
11. Adam Byrne (UCD – Leinster)
10. Conor McKeon (Lansdowne – Leinster)
9. Jack Cullen (Bruff – Munster)

1. Peter Dooley (Lansdowne – Leinster)
2. Max Abbott (Cork Constitution – Munster)
3. Rory Burke (Cork Constitution – Munster)
4. Sean O'Brien (Galwegians – Connacht) Capt.
5. Ross Molony (UCD – Leinster)
6. Peadar Timmins (UCD – Leinster)
7. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers – Connacht)
8. Jack O'Donoghue (UL Bohemians – Munster)

Replacements
16. Sean McNulty (UCD – Munster)
17. Denis Coulson (Lansdowne – Leinster)
18. Oisin Heffernan (Lansdowne – Leinster)
19. Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne – Leinster)
20. Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
21. Nick McCarthy (UCD – Leinster)
22. Ross Byrne (UCD – Leinster)
23. David Busby (QUB – Ulster)

IRELAND U20 2014 RBS 6 Nations Fixture

France U20s v IRELAND U20s

Stade Maurice Trelut; 7:55pm

Friday 14th March, 2014