IRELAND U20s HEAD coach Nigel Carolan has made a number of changes to his starting team for Friday evening’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay [KO 19.45, RTÉ 2].
Exciting Connacht flyer Ciaran Gaffney returns to start on the right wing, having missed the opening three rounds through injury. The Galwegians man impressed for the U20s at last year’s Junior World Championship.
Gaffney’s provincial teammate Cian Romaine also comes into the XV for his first start of the championship, Josh Murphy moving up from the back row to form an all-new second row partnership.
There are also two news faces in the back row, as former Blackrock College openside Conor Oliver is selected at openside, while fellow St. Mary’s man Nick Timoney is promoted from the bench to blindside.
On the bench, Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale and Conor Young, Leinster’s Andrew Porter and Connacht’s Stephen McVeigh feature for the first time in the Six Nations.
“It was disappointing to lose to England in the last round, but we have put that behind us now in preparation for Wales,” said Carolan.
“We have addressed the key areas that were highlighted against England and hopefully we can take our chances when they come along. The championship is still there for the taking and we look forward to getting it back on track this Friday.”
Ireland U20s to face Wales:
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. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (captain)
1. Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (QUB/Ulster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)
4. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
5. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
6. Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
7. Conor Oliver (St. Mary’s/ Leinster)
8. Lorcan Dow (QUB/Ulster)
Replacements:
16. Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster)
17. Andrew Porter (UCD/ Leinster)
18. Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. David O’Connor (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
20. Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/ Connacht)
21. Conor Young (QUB/Ulster)
22. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
23. Jacob Stockdale (QUB/Ulster)
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Meanwhile, Ireland Women have made just one enforced change to the team that beat England last time out as they get set to face Wales in Swansea RFC on Sunday afternoon [KO 12.00, RTE 2FM and live stream at www.IrishRugby.ie].
Centre Katie Fitzhenry has been ruled out with an ankle injury, meaning Jackie Sheils starts and Aoife Doyle is named on the bench.
“It was great to get a win against England a fortnight ago, and has left us in a good position for the final two rounds of the championship, but we are always looking for improvements,” said head coach Tom Tierney.
“We are not underestimating Wales, they are a strong side and we have no doubt they will bring their all with them for the home crowd. If we do the small things right we will be in good shape.”
Ireland Women to face Wales:
15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster) (captain)
14. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
13. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
12. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/ Exiles)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
9. Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC)
1. Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/ Connacht)
2. Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo RFC)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St Marys/ Leinster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/ Connacht)
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/ Munster)
Replacements:
16. Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exiles)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian/ Munster)
18. Fiona O’Brien (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
19. Orla Fitzsimons (St Marys/ Leinster)
20. Katie Norris (Blackrock / Leinster)
21. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/ Leinster)
22. Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht)
23. Aoife Doyle (Shannon/ Munster)
If they are…..they need to up the dosage because it’s not doing them much good.
Why is it always South Africa that gets the worst treatment. Surely it happens just as much in NZ , England and probably Ireland as much as it does there???
@Jamie Bent: because as he said its systematic there. The point about Ireland been small is corect. There’s plenty of ex players and crank journalists would would love to be able to break a story about drugs in the irish sides. Maybe at lower levels you might get a player or two but I just can’t see how any of the top professionals would get away with it.
@Jamie Bent: yes it does it’s happened since amatuer days. very little testing so no one knows the extent.
@Jamie Bent: temptation greater in South Africa rugby is a path to high earnings for someone from an impoverished background.
@Chris Mc: ` ex players & crank journalists` are the only ones who will break the omerta surrounding drug use in rugby I assume from your comment, the rest of the rugby pundits are merely PR for the IRFU, that figures.
@Jamie Bent: there js a picture of the South Africa team a few months ago and the props have 6 packs and everyone is a bit too big and strong to be true
Horgan reeeaaaallly liked what the lads were telling him in that photo.
Steroids are a factor in rugby . You only have to listen to the Irish lads mention “genetics “ during the World Cup and around certain games where we have played and been beaten up physically . We all know what they were talking about .
Be naive to think there are not Irish lads at it also but you can tell just by looking at physiques that is definitely more rampant in other countries than here.
Lance failed a good few drug tests. Just had them covered up by the powers that be.
De-risk rugby by getting rid of the “finishers” bench.
Read Stephen Ferris’ autobiography if you want an insight into “supplement” use.
Biggest problem with drugs in rugby today is whoever is dealing to the IRFU players..it’s farcical! 100% duds !
It’s riddled. No one can take that punishment off men who are 17-19 stone running full belt into you every game. It’s being kept quiet because it’s so small in Ireland. The posh elite are very good at keeping secrets
Here we go..
Most are taking HGH that’s a fact.
I’m afraid it’s all about Shane………… again
Rugby is grand, try the travellers in the story above .
Six Nations is off, what can we talk about to stir the pot and create some controversy?