Scotland and Ireland have named their side for their meeting in the 7th place play off at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Viadana tomorrow lunchtime.
The two sides met during the group stage, with Ireland winning 24-20, a result which helped Ireland to finish second behind New Zealand, with Scotland third. However both lost their 5th place play off semi finals, leaving them fighting for seventh tomorrow, though win or lose Scotland are guaranteed their best ever finish in the tournament.
Both sides make changes to their teams, Scotland have four changes after their 31-21 defeat to Australia, with Murray McCallum coming in at loosehead and Sam James joining him at hooker having been on the bench against Australia.
Neil Irvine-Hess returns to the side at blindside flanker, with Ally Miller joining the ever present Scott Cummings in the second row. The Scottish backline remains unchanged for the second game in a row.
Speaking ahead of the game, Scotland U20 Head Coach Sean Lineen said:
“It’s been a long tournament but we’re extremely proud of the players’ efforts across the four games we’ve played. However, we need to keep improving, and we need to lift our performance again for this final match against Ireland. We’ve already played them in this competition and we expect another tight game.â€
“Against Australia, a lack of concentration cost us dearly so that’s something we’ve addressed on the run up to this game. To win games you need to play for the full 80 minutes and that’s something that we need to do, against Ireland.â€Â
Ireland meanwhile make 5 changes following their tough defeat to Wales last time out, which saw them 22-0 down at half time, though they did keep Wales scoreless in the second half.
Zack McCall and Conan O’’Donnell come into the front row, with Rory Moloney and rising star Lorcan Dow returning to the back row. Billy Dardis is the only change in the backline, he starts at full back.
Ahead of the game Ireland U20 Head Coach Nigel Carolan said:
“We are expecting another tough challenge ahead of us, Scotland have proved to be a formidable opponent, however, we are confident that we can finish the tournament on a high note.”
Scotland U20 v Ireland U20 – World Rugby U20 Championship 7th Place Play Off – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana, Saturday 12.00 kick off.
Scotland U20 XV:
15 Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)Â
14 Robbie Nairn (Harlequins)
13 Alec Coombes (London Scottish)
12 Patrick Kelly (Le Parc)
11 Richard Galloway (University of Birmingham)
10 Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
9 Ben Vellacott (Gloucester/Hartpury College)
1 Murray McCallum (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby)
2 Sam James (Bedford Blues)
3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
5 Ally Miller (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonians)
6 Neil Irvine-Hess (Melrose)
7 Jamie Ritchie CAPTAIN (Edinburgh Rugby)
8 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)
ReplacementsÂ
16 Ross Graham (Hawick)
17 Dan Elkington (Watsonians)
18 Jack Owlett (Exeter University)
19 Ruaridh Knott (Melrose)
20 Lewis Wynne (Stirling County)
21 George Horne (Glasgow Hawks)
22 Tom Galbraith (Melrose)
23 Archie Russell (Stirling County)
Ireland U20 XV:
15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Jacob Stockdale (QUB/Ulster)
10. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
9. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
2. Zack McCall (QUB/Ulster)
3. Conán O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
4. David O’Connor (St.Mary’s/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queens University/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
7. Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
8. Lorcan Dow (QUB/Ulster)
Replacements:
16. Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster)
17. Liam O’Connor (Cork Constitution /Munster)
18. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure/Leinster)
19. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
21. Jack Cullen (Shannon/ Munster)
22. Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster)
23. Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
