It is top against bottom on the final day of the Under-20 Six Nations as the Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) aim for Grand Slam glory at a sold-out Musgrave Park.
2022 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, March 20
IRELAND UNDER-20s (1st) v SCOTLAND UNDER-20s (6th), Musgrave Park, 5pm (live Virgin Media Two/BBC iPlayer)
Team News: Ireland U-20 head coach Richie Murphy has made one change in personnel, bringing in Clontarf’s Aitzol King, who scored a brace of tries against England last weekend, on the right wing.
With four wins from four, Ireland top the U-20 Six Nations table – by three points from France – and know that a victory over Scotland on ‘Super Sunday’ would secure a memorable clean sweep of victories.
King joins Patrick Campbell and Fionn Gibbons in Ireland’s back-three, with the Ulster duo of Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson retained in midfield, as are ever-reliable half-backs Charlie Tector and Matthew Devine.
Murphy has opted for an unchanged pack once again with the front row of Jack Boyle, James McCormick and Rory McGuire starting together for the fourth consecutive match.
The second row pairing of UCD duo Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Mark Morrissey have been ever-present throughout the U-20 Six Nations, while captain Reuben Crothers, Lorcan McLoughlin and James Culhane complete the starting XV.
Commenting ahead of the much-anticipated Grand Slam decider, Murphy said: “We are really excited about the prospect of finishing the Championship in front of a sold-out home crowd in Cork.
“The group have grown remarkably over the last couple of months and we go into Sunday’s game knowing what’s at stake for us.
“This week has been all about sticking to our processes, putting the head down and preparing as well as we can for what will hopefully be our best performance of the Six Nations.
“The players have remained really focused and we know if we can nail our work we will give ourselves the best possible opportunity of overcoming the final hurdle.”
Meanwhile, Scotland supremo Kenny Murray has made only one change to the team that lost 27-13 to Italy in Treviso last weekend. Edinburgh’s Patrick Harrison returns at hooker.
Mikey Jones, another of the Edinburgh contingent, and Currie Chieftains tighthead Gregor Scougall both start their fourth straight game in the front row.
Ealing Trailfinders’ Josh Taylor and Max Williamson from Stirling County continue their second row partnership, completing a clean sweep of Six Nations starts. Glasgow Warriors’ Rhys Tait captains the side from number 8.
The back-line features Montpellier recruit Robin McClintock at full-back and half-backs Christian Townsend and Murray Redpath, whose respective fathers, Gregor and Bryan, were Test regulars for Scotland.
Under-20 Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Under-20 Six Nations Table
IRELAND U-20: Patrick Campbell (Young Munster RFC/Munster); Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Ben Carson (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster); Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Matthew Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McCormick (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Rory McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster), Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) (capt), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster).
Replacements: Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Adam McNamee (Malone RFC/Ulster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster), Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster), Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby).
SCOTLAND U-20: Robin McClintock (Montpellier); Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors), Andy Stirrat (GHA), Ben Evans (Heriot’s/Edinburgh); Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors), Murray Redpath (Newcastle University); Michael Jones (Heriot’s/Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains), Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders), Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons), Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks), Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (capt).
Replacements: Duncan Hood (Bath University), Ali Rogers (Glasgow Hawks), Corey Bowker (Fylde RFC), Innes Hill (Ealing Trailfinders), Robert Gordon (Exeter University), Jonty Cope (Durham University), Thomas Glendinning (Glasgow Hawks), Keiran Clark (Southern Knights).
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Shota Tevadze, Saba Abulashvili (both Georgia)
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Watch
The game is live on Virgin Media Two in the Republic of Ireland, while viewers in Northern Ireland/the UK can watch it live on the BBC iPlayer.
Pre-Match Quotes – Ben Carson (Ireland U-20s): “I know how special it was for them (the Ireland Under-20 squad from 2019). You watch and you’re jealous because it’s so amazing to obviously win a Grand Slam.
“To be in a position now to hopefully do that is so special, so hopefully we get the job done. It would be unbelievable.
“We’re not thinking that far ahead just yet, we’ve got one game left to play and we’re focusing on beating Scotland in front of our own home support.
“I think it will be special for all of us to hopefully win that Grand Slam, but I don’t want to get too excited too early, like the rest of the lads. We’re just focusing on the game itself.”
Kenny Murray (Scotland U-20s): “Ireland are undefeated so far in this campaign, they’re going for the Grand Slam so we know they will be a challenge for us.
“We’ve made only one change to the starting team who travelled to Italy. Although the final score (a 27-13 defeat) didn’t reflect it, there were some positives to take from our performance against them.
“It’s been a long campaign for our players who have worked hard throughout. If we convert our chances into points we can end the tournament on a high.”
Pre-Match Links –
Murphy: There’s A Real Brotherhood Within The Group
‘The Cork Crowd Are Unbelievable For Us’ – Crothers
Where To Watch: 2022 Under-20 Six Nations
Recent Meetings –
2019: Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland U-20s 5 Ireland U-20s 24, Netherdale, Galashiels
2020: Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland U-20s 38 Scotland U-20s 26, Irish Independent Park
2021: Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland Under-20s 7 Ireland Under-20s 38, Cardiff Arms Park
Support the Ireland U-20s on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #FutureIsGreen, #IREvSCO and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
Source: Irish Rugby