The Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) will aim to bounce back from an opening defeat when they face high-flying South Africa, their first southern hemisphere opponents of the season.
2022 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS SUMMER SERIES – POOL A: Wednesday, June 29
IRELAND UNDER-20s (4th) v SOUTH AFRICA UNDER-20s (2nd), Payanini Rugby Centre, Verona, 8pm local time/7pm Irish time (live Under-20 Six Nations YouTube Channel)
Team News: Head coach Richie Murphy has made six changes to his team for the round 2 fixture, with Patrick Campbell, Sam Prendergast, Michael Moloney, George Hadden, Diarmuid Mangan and George Shaw coming into the side.
Campbell, who was one of the standout performers during Ireland’s U-20 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign, has recovered from a thumb injury to start at full-back.
The return of the Munster Academy ace means Dylan O’Grady switches to the left wing, while Aitzol King, the scorer of Ireland’s opening try against France last Friday, continues on the right.
The centre pairing of Fionn Gibbons and Daniel Hawkshaw remains unchanged from the 42-21 defeat to les Bleuets, with Leinster duo Prendergast and Moloney forming a new half-back pairing.
In the pack, Hadden comes into the front row alongside James McCormick and Darragh McSweeney, and Mangan steps into the engine room alongside the ever-present Conor O’Tighearnaigh.
James McNabney and captain Reuben Crothers are joined in the back row by number 8 Shaw, who has come through the IQ Rugby pathway.
Murphy has plenty of options on the bench with teams allowed to name an extended matchday squad of 26 players for the tournament in Italy.
Meanwhile, South Africa head coach Bafana Nhleko has kept the starting back-line intact from their 30-22 victory over England, but the pack is freshened up.
Lock Reinhardt Ludwig and number 8 Cameron Hanekom are the only two players set to get a second start up front, with Nhleko making six changes to the forwards.
The Vodacom Bulls front row trio of Corne Lavanga, Sivu Mabece and Tiaan Lange will pack down together. Ludwig’s new lock partner is Corne Rahl of the Cell C Sharks.
Hanekom, who a had a strong first outing in Italy, will be flanked by DHL Western Province pair Paul de Villiers and Louw Nel in the back row.
Watch out for Junior Springboks captain, out-half Sacha Mngomezulu, who had 16 kicks from open play against England, double the amount of any other player in the tournament. He also provided the assists for three tries.
Under-20 Six Nations Summer Series Fixtures/Results
Under-20 Six Nations Summer Series Table
IRELAND U-20: Patrick Campbell (Young Munster RFC/Munster); Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster), Daniel Hawkshaw (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Michael Moloney (UCD RFC/Leinster); George Hadden (Gorey RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster), James McCormick (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Darragh McSweeney (Shannon RFC/Munster), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) (capt), George Shaw (Cardiff University/IQ Rugby).
Replacements: Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Kieran Ryan (Shannon RFC/Munster), Adam McNamee (Malone RFC/Ulster), Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Andrew O’Mahony (UCC RFC/Munster), Reece Malone (Loughborough University/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), George Coomber (UCC RFC/Munster), Shay McCarthy (Young Munster RFC/Munster), Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).
SOUTH AFRICA U-20: Duran Koevort (DHL WP); Donovan Don (Down Touch Griffons), Ethan James (DHL WP), Carlton Banies (Vodacom Bulls), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL WP); Sacha Mngomezulu (DHL WP) (capt),, Nico Steyn (Lions); Corne Lavagna (Vodacom Bulls), Tiaan Lange (Vodacom Bulls), Sivuyise Mabece (Vodacom Bulls), Corne Rahl (Cell C Sharks), Reinhardt Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls), Paul de Villiers (DHL WP), Louw Nel (DHL WP), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls).
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela (DHL WP), Lamla Nunu (DHL WP), Corne Weilbach (DHL WP), Connor Evans (DHL WP), Siya Ningiza (Cell C Sharks), Niel le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Compion von Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls), Katlego Letebele (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Venter (Lions), Gcino Mdletshe (Vodacom Bulls), Imad Khan (DHL WP).
Watch
The game is live on the Under-20 Six Nations YouTube channel.
Pre-Match Quotes – Reuben Crothers (Ireland U-20s): “I think in some moments we switched off and when France got in the ascendancy, sloppy mistakes from us sort of allowed them to build a scoreline. That was the main thing for us.
“There’s aspects of our phase play that we can get better at too. If you look at our Six Nations campaign, there were certain things we were very good at.
“Out there (in the first game) we weren’t able to hit those targets, so we’ve just got to try and get better and make those improvements for South Africa.”
Chean Roux (South Africa U-20s): “The Irish will be hurting after that loss to France and we have to make sure we are physically and mentally prepared and up for the challenge.
“They are a proud team who showed what they’re capable of during their recent successful Under-20 Six Nations campaign, so we have no doubt what they will bring against us.”
Recent Meetings –
2011: World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool C: Ireland U-20s 26 South Africa U-20s 42, Stadio di Monigo, Treviso; 5th-8th Place Play-Off: South Africa U-20s 57 Ireland U-20s 15, Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
2012: World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool B: South Africa U-20s 19 Ireland U-20s 23, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
2018: World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool C: South Africa U-20s 30 Ireland U-20s 17, Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie, Narbonne
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Source: Irish Rugby