Updated Friday 17.00
IRELAND U20 HEAD COACH Noel McNamara has named his side for Friday night’s Six Nations meeting with Italy in Donnybrook (KO 7.15pm, RTÉ 2).
The original starting XV showed four changes in personnel from the team that suffered a 34-24 defeat to France in last weekend’s opener in Bordeaux. A fifth change was enforced on Friday afternoon, as hooker Ronan Kelleher withdrew through illness, bringing Eoghan Clarke into the starting line-up and Munster’s Diarmuid Barron in among the replacments.
Ulster’s Angus Curtis has been promoted from the bench to replace David McCarthy. Curtis will start at inside centre, which means captain Tommy O’Brien moves from 12 to 13.
The other adjustment in the backline sees Leinster’s Hugh O’Sullivan starting at scrum-half in place of Jonny Stewart, who’s required by Ulster for their Guinness Pro14 clash with Southern Kings.
Matthew Dalton has also been called upon by the northern province for the visit of the South African side to Kingspan Stadium on Friday evening. Dalton’s place at blindside flanker will be taken by Connacht’s Sean Masterson. There’s also a change at openside, with Matthew Agnew of Ulster — the only debutant set to start — replacing the injured Aaron Hall.
Ireland U20 v Italy:
15. Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster)
14. Peter Sullivan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
13. Tommy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster — captain)
12. Angus Curtis (Queen’s University RFC/Ulster)
11. James McCarthy (UL Bohemian/Munster)
10. Harry Byrne (UCD RFC/Leinster)
9. Hugh O’Sullivan (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
1. Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster)
2. Eoghan Clarke (Wanderers FC/Leinster)
3. Jack Aungier (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
4. Cormac Daly (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
5. Jack Dunne (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
6. Sean Masterson (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
7. Matthew Agnew (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
8. Jack O’Sullivan (UCC RFC/Munster)
Replacements:
16. Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen FC/Munster (2)
17. James French (UCC RFC/Munster)
18. Tom O’Toole (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
19. Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20. Ronan Foley (UCD RFC/Leinster)
21. Paddy Patterson (UCD RFC/Leinster)
22. Conor Dean (St.Mary’s College RFC/Leinster)
23. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
