IRELAND UNDER 20s coach Nigel Carolan has handed out 12 new caps for Friday’s Six Nations age grade opener at home to Wales (Donnybrook, 19.35).

Ulster back Jacob Stockdale is missing from the ranks as Les Kiss has kept him within the northern province’s ranks for the Pro12 clash at home to the Dragons.

The three other squad members with experience at this level are in the front row.

Powerful loosehead Andrew Porter will lead from the front alongside Adam McBurney and Conan O’Donnell.

Lansdowne lock James Ryan captains the side from the engine room with Connacht’s Cillian Gallagher joining Leinster’s Will Connors and Max Deegan in the back row.

Behind the scrum, Johnny McPhillips and John Poland will steer the team from half-back  with Cork Con’s Shane Daly appearing to be the chief benefactor of Stockdale’s absence as he takes the number 13 jersey.

Ireland U20 (v Wales, Friday 5 February 2016)

15. Jack Power (UCD / Leinster)*
14. Matthew Byrne (Terenure / Leinster)*
13. Shane Daly (Cork Con / Munster)*
12. Jimmy O’Brien (UCD / Leinster)*
11. Hugo Keenan (UCD / Leinster)*
10. Johnny McPhillips (QUB / Ulster)*
9. John Poland (Cork Con / Munster)*

1. Andrew Porter (UCD / Leinster)
2. Adam McBurney (Ballymena / Ulster)
3. Conan O’Donnell (Sligo / Connacht)
4. Peter Claffey (Galwegians / Connacht)*
5. James Ryan (Lansdowne / Leinster)* Captain
6. Cillian Gallagher (Sligo / Connacht)*
7. Will Connors (UCD / Leinster)*
8. Max Deegan (Lansdowne / Leinster)*

Replacements: 

16. Shane Fenton (Young Munster / Munster)*
17. James Bollard (Dublin University / Leinster)*
18. Conor Kenny (Buccaneers / Connacht)*
19. Sean O’Connor (Cashel / Munster)*
20. Kelvin Brown (Shannon / Munster)*
21. Stephen Kerins (Sligo / Connacht)*
22. Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons)*
23. Conor O’Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)*

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