IRELAND HEAD COACH Peter Malone has made three changes to his team as he prepares for a ninth-place play-off against World Rugby U20 hosts Georgia in Tbilisi tomorrow (10am Irish time, Eir Sport).

Centre mainstay Ciaran Frawley has been edged out of the back-line and onto the bench as Garryowen’s David McCarthy partners Gavin Mullin in midfield.

Charlie Connolly comes back into the tighthead slot in place of Peter Cooper with Lansdowne’s Greg McGrath promoted to the bench.

Charlie Connolly in action against the Baby Blacks. Archil Gegenava / INPHO Archil Gegenava / INPHO / INPHO

Behind the unchanged second row of Fineen Wycherley and Oisin Dowling, Shannon’s John Foley replaces fellow Munster man Gavin Coombes on the blindside with captain Paul Boyle and Caelan Doris completing the back row.

“It’s been a tough tournament for us with injuries taking its toll,” says Malone, “but the players have all rallied together and it was a good result last time out against Samoa, so we’ll look to carry the positives from that game into the match tomorrow.

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“The Georgians are going to be big and powerful, so the players know that they’re going to have to front up and be ready for that battle.”

Ireland U20 (v Georgia, 9th place play-off)

15. Alan Tynan (Young Munster/ Munster) (4)
14. Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster) (3)
13. Gavin Mullin (UCD/ Leinster) (6)
12. David McCarthy (Garryowen/Munster) (3)
11. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (7)
10. Conor Dean (St. Mary’s/ Leinster) (4)
9. Jack Stafford (Shannon/ Munster) (5)

1. Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster) (3)
2. Ronan Kelleher (UCD/ Leinster) (7)
3. Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster) (9)
4. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/ Munster) (8)
5. Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster) (8)
6. John Foley (Shannon/Munster) (3)
7. Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster) (8) (Captain)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (8)

Replacements:

16. Adam Moloney (Shannon/Munster) (5)
17. Joey Conway (UL Bohs/Munster) (8)
18.Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/Leinster) (4)
19. Jack Regan (UCD/ Leinster) (9)
20. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/ Munster) (7)
21. Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/ Ulster) (9)
22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/ Leinster) (9)
23. Mark Keane (Instonians/Ulster) (1)

(*U20 caps in brackets above)

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