An U20 final beckons for the Wolfpuppies.
Nigel Carolan has made a bevvy of changes for Monday evening’s World Rugby U20 Championships semi-final against Argentina.
Captain James Ryan, who sat out the midweek win over Georgia, returns to the second row while Andrew Porter, Adam McBurney and Ben Betts are all recalled to the front row.
Max Deegan and David Aspil join Greg Jones, who has started all four games, in the back row while Stephen Kerins and Johnny McPhillips are the half backs. Conor O’Brien and Shane Daly are in midfield while back three is comprised of fullback Jacob Stockdale and wingers Matthew Byrne and Hugo Keenan. Carolan comments:
“There’s a great belief among this group and they’ve shown what they can do as a team over the course of the last number of games.
“Argentina are going to present another big test for us. They have a lot of physicality up front as well as pace out wide so we are going to need to be at the top of our game tomorrow.”
To date in the championship, Ireland have beaten Wales [Grand Slam winners], defending champions New Zealand and the Georgians.
The last four clash kicks off at 5:30pm and will be broadcast live on TG4 and Sky Sports 3.
IRELAND U20s
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)
Matthew Byrne (Leinster)
Shane Daly (Munster)
Conor O’Brien (Leinster)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)
Johnny McPhillips (Ulster)
Stephen Kerins (Connacht)
Andrew Porter (Leinster)
Adam McBurney (Ulster)
Ben Betts (Munster)
Sean O’Connor (Munster)
James Ryan (Leinster) [C]
Greg Jones (Leinster)
David Aspil (Leinster)
Max Deegan (Leinster)
