Advertisement
Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

U20 title charge left in limbo as Ireland await call on France fixture

Noel McNamara’s men have every right to expect their match to be called off, but can’t afford to stop preparing to face France.

IRELAND’S SENIOR SIDE may have taken the bit from between their teeth and put a title chase on ice after yesterday’s postponements.

Yet Noel McNamara’s U20 squad, whose 100% return from their opening three matches mean they are just one win away from securing the Championship, must keep along their trajectory for the time-being as their match remains (however temporarily) in place as they lace up for training today.

The age grade match was mentioned in yesterday’s Six Nations statement postponing Ireland’s senior match, but only so far as saying a decision had not yet been reached.

At this stage, the delay or postponement will either serve as a preparation hiccup or complete momentum collapse for an Irish side that looked such an irresistible force when they ripped England apart last time out.

“I think the word that I would use is disappointing, but it’s no more than that,” said head coach Noel McNamara yesterday, his players given a reprieve from media duty as the schedule was left up in the air.

“It’s disappointing because I think we can continue to get better. We certainly had momentum coming out of those first three games. We are not in control of it, so therefore you can’t lose energy.”

There is any amount of mental gymnastics that could be put into trying figure a work-around for rugby’s fixture list. U20 level is among the trickier prospects right now.

For starters, the summer’s U20 World Cup is slated for Calvisano – currently in quarantine over Covid-19 – while the nature of U20 level means a host of players may well be taken up by their provinces by early next season.

McNamara is more concerned with the time requirements that third-level exams will present his players in May, but adds:

“We are certainly very hopeful that it will be completed before the start of the new season because we would like to see the lads get an opportunity to finish off this Championship and equally we would like to see them step up at the start of the season.”

A considerable contingent of McNamara’s squad will hope to be back in green much sooner than that, with U19 internationals set for April on these shores against France. Outside of that, though, the Clare man is keen to see his players return to their clubs to play more senior rugby.

“Once we get final confirmation then the players will be released and will go back to their provinces.

“For many of them, they will go back into playing AIL. That’s a crucial part of our player development pathway as well.

“It is coming to the business end of that competition, teams are involved in play-offs, there are tight battles at the other end of the table as well.

“They are continue to get a really good level of rugby where they are tested in lots of different ways.”

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bazalicous Dunne
    Favourite Bazalicous Dunne
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2016, 9:01 AM

    Toulon are a shadow of themselves this season. . Chickens coming home to roost it would seem. . Hopefully the same happens at Saracens soon but this year I feel they are head and shoulders above the rest and likely wont be stopped from retaining the BT cup.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert James Behan
    Favourite Robert James Behan
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2016, 12:17 PM

    The smart money is on Wasps this year! Sure they have bloody well spent enough to win it.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Carey
    Favourite John Carey
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2016, 11:34 AM

    Fair play to Peter Stringer for playing the match , a true gentleman and professional.However it was a poor match. Toulon don’t play as well as they used to , that’s for sure. They should’ve blown Sale out of the water. There was some good performances from Halfpenny, Gorgodze and Vermeulen.
    Vermeulen was superb at the breakdown winning 3 key turnovers and working hard clearing out conceding no turnovers and gave a very physical performance up front despite a stupid yellow card. The Springboks in November will need him at his world class form. Wales will also be happy to see a fit Halfpenny for the internationals . Gorgodze gave his standard physical carries and metres helping Ollivon score his 5th try of the season which is great for a blindside and should be expecting that French call up soon.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert James Behan
    Favourite Robert James Behan
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2016, 12:16 PM

    Please can we have anyone but Toulon or Sarries win it this year?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Range Rover P38
    Favourite Range Rover P38
    Report
    Oct 22nd 2016, 10:48 AM

    Shocking match.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel