Ireland have once again dominated the World Rugby U20 Championship ‘Dream Team’.

The World Rugby selected team for Round 2 of the Championships saw four Irishmen selected. Hugo Keenan on the left wing, with skipper James Ryan in the second row and Andrew Porter and Adam McBurney in the front row. Impressively, Porter, McBurney, and Ryan are in the side for the second week in a row, the only players to have been selected in both rounds.

It is hardly surprising though after Ireland put in arguably the performance of the tournament to beat the Champions, New Zealand, 33-24 on Saturday.

New Zealand played well enough to have a couple of representatives of their own in the side, Jordan Trainor at full back and Joride Barrett, the familiar brother of All Black Beauden, at inside centre.

Argentina are the second most represented side as they continue their impressive start, they are top of their pool having beaten both South Africa and France, and only have Japan left to play ahead of the semi finals.

Franco Molina is selected from the Argentina side in the second row, with Tomas Malanos on the right wing. For the second week running Argentina have a fly half in the side, this week Domingo Miotti is selected there, following on from Martin Eilas.

France impressed in victory against Japan, and are rewarded with Damian Penaud selected in the centres for the ‘Dream Team’, with Antoine Dupont at scrum half.

Italy fell 38-10 to Australia, but despite that Australia are without a player in the dream team, while Italian prop Marco Riccioni is selected. England have just one player in the side, despite their 44-0 drubbing of Scotland. The outstanding Will Evans is selected at openside.

One of the most impressive performances of the day was Georgia’s against Wales. The Georgians pushed Wales all the way, just losing by 10-9 eventually, and are rewarded with number 8 Beka Gorgadze being selected in the Dream Team. Japan’s Faulua Makisi completes the back row after impressing in defeat to France.

World Rugby U20 Championships Round 2 ‘Dream Team’:

15 Jordan Trainor (New Zealand)

14 Tomas Malanos (Argentina)

13 Damian Penaud (France)

12 Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)

11 Hugo Keenan (Ireland)

10 Domingo Miotti (Argentina)

9 Antoine Dupont (France)

1 Andrew Porter (Ireland)

2 Adam McBurney (Ireland)

3 Marco Riccioni (Italy)

4 Franco Molina (Argentina)

5 James Ryan (Ireland)

6 Faulua Makisi (Japan)

7 Will Evans (England)

8 Beka Gorgadze (Georgia)

World Rugby U20 Championship Round 2 Results:

New Zealand 24-33 Ireland (Pool A)

Wales 10-9 Georgia (Pool A)

Australia 38-10 Italy (Pool B)

England 44-0 Scotland (Pool B)

France 46-14 Japan (Pool C)

South Africa 13-19 Argentina (Pool C)

World Rugby U20 Championship Fixtures:

Wednesday 15th June

Scotland v Italy (Pool B, Manchester City Academy Stadium, 15.15)

Argentina v Japan (Pool C, AJ Bell, 15.15)

Ireland v Georgia (Pool A, Manchester City Academy Stadium, 17.30)

New Zealand v Wales (Pool A, AJ Bell, 17.30)

South Africa v France (Pool C, Manchester City Academy Stadium, 19.45)

England v Australia (Pool B, AJ Bell, 19.45)

Monday 20th June – Semi Finals Day (Pool Winners and best runner up compete in semi finals, next two runners up and top two third place in 5th – 8th seeding games, three pool losers and worst third placed side in 9th – 12th seeding games)

 Saturday 25th June – Finals Day