World Rugby U20 Championship: Ireland name side for semi final clash v Argentina

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Ireland have named their side for their World Rugby U20 Championship semi final against Argentina tomorrow.

 

Argentina came through a tough group that included France, South Africa, and Japan, however Ireland’s route was perhaps even tougher as they faced reigning champions New Zealand, U20 6 Nations Grand Slam winners, Wales, as well as Georgia, winning all three games.

 

Ireland made changes to their settled team that had beaten Wales and New Zealand, so there is no surprise that there are 11 changes to Nigel Carolan’s side for this huge semi final game, kicking off at 17.30 at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.

 

Andrew Porter, Adam McBurney, and Ben Betts all return to the starting front row, with skipper James Ryan returning to the starting fifteen as well. Porter, McBurney, and Ryan appeared in the World Rugby U20 Championship ‘Dream Team’ in the opening two rounds.

 

Sean O’Connor partners Ryan in the second row, with Max Deegan, David Aspil, and the ever present Greg Jones making up the back row.

 

Stephen Kerins replaces Epsom College’s Niall Saunders at scrum half but former Sedbergh star Johnny McPhillips retains his spot at fly half. Conor O’Brien and Shane Daly both return to the starting side in the centres.

 

Jacob Stockdale also returns at full back, with Matthew Byrne and Hugo Keenan on the wings.

 

Speaking to the Irish Rugby website, Head Coach Nigel Carolan said:

 

“The players have done really well to get themselves into a World Championship semi-final. There’s a great belief amongst 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.”

 

Ireland U20 v Argentina U20 – Monday, 17.30, Manchester City Academy Stadium, Live on Sky Sports 3

 

 

Ireland U20 XV

15 Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

14 Matthew Byrne (Terenure College/Leinster)

13 Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster)

12 Conor O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

11 Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)

10 Johnny McPhillips (Queen’s University/Ulster)

9 Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht)

1 Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)

2 Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster)

3 Ben Betts (Young Munster/Munster)

4 Sean O’Connor (Cashel/Munster)

5 James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt)

6 Greg Jones (UCD/Leinster)

7 David Aspil (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

8 Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 Vincent O’Brien (Cork Constitution/Munster)

17 James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster)

18 Adam Coyle (Naas/Leinster)

19 Evan Mintern (Cork Constitution/Munster)

20 Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster)

21 Niall Saunders (Harlequins/Exiles)

22 Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons/Exiles)

23 Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)

 

World Rugby U20 Championship Fixtures:

 

Monday 20th June

Semi Finals

Ireland v Argentina – Monday 17.30, Manchester City Academy Stadium

England v South Africa – Monday 19.45, Manchester City Academy Stadium

5th-8th Semi Finals

New Zealand v Wales – Monday, 15.15, Manchester City Academy Stadium

Scotland v Australia – Monday, 19.45, AJ Bell

9th-12th Semi Finals

Georgia v Italy v 11th – Monday, 15.15, AJ Bell

France v Japan – Monday, 17.30, AJ Bell

 Saturday 25th June – Finals Day

 

World Rugby U20 Championship – Pool A Final Standings
PosTeamWDLBPPoints
1Ireland300113
2New Zealand201210
3Wales10237
4Georgia00311

 

World Rugby U20 Championship – Pool B Final Standings
PosTeamWDLBPPoints
1England300214
2Scotland20119
3Australia10237
4Italy00300

 

World Rugby U20 Championship – Pool C Final Standings
PosTeamWDLBPPoints
1Argentina300113
2South Africa201311
3France10226
4Japan00300
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