UNDER-20/ENGLAND V IRELAND:IRELAND FACE yet another team from their World Cup pool this evening as they seek to recover from an at-times encouraging 20-15 defeat in France.
The England crop proved in their 41-14 dismantling of Wales, slightly checked by a typically difficult 16-10 win in Italy, that they are capable of winning a Grand Slam. All told, this will be a valuable experience, like Toulouse was a fortnight ago, ahead of the June tournament in Argentina.
The English strength-in-depth is intimidating, with Harlequins prop Joe Marler, scorer of two tries against Wales (just type his name into YouTube), making way for Sale’s Lee Imiolek, while Jack Wallace comes in at fullback and number eight Alex Gray returns from suspension.
They have a second prop on the bench named Kieran Brooks who came through the Irish underage system before switching allegiance this season.
The explosive nature of this pack looks a genuine concern.
Ireland coach Allen Clarke has made one alteration to the replacements bench, with Shannon hooker Duncan Casey replacing UCD’s David Doyle. Besides that, there is a settled look to the side, with 18-year-old Leinster fullback Andrew Conway representing the main attacking threat.
It could be a long, educational night, but if Ireland can hold the damn, as they did for long stretches down in France, then they can grow into the contest.
ENGLAND: J Wallace; W Hurrell, J Joseph, T Casson, J May; F Burns, S Harrison; L Imiolek, J George, S Knight, D Wright, C Matthews, J Wray, J Rowan (capt), A Gray. Replacements: A Ellis, J Marler , K Brookes, G Kruis, J Pasqualin, J Sharp, C Wade.
IRELAND: A Conway (Leinster); D Hudson Leinster), B Macken (Leinster), N Spence (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster); J McKinney (Ulster), J Cooney (Leinster); B Cagney (Munster), N Annett (Ulster), J O’Connell (Leinster); D O’Callaghan (Munster), B Marshall (Leinster); R Ruddock (Leinster, capt), D Ryan (Leinster), P Butler (Munster). Replacements: D Casey (Munster), S Maguire ( Leinster), B Hayes (Munster), R O’Sullivan (Leinster), M Heaney (Ulster), B Kingston (Leinster), E Griffin (Connacht).
