Head coach Richie Murphy has named the Ireland U-20 team for their U-20 Six Nations Summer Series opener against France at the Payanini Centre in Verona (KO 7pm Irish time).
Ulster back row Reuben Crothers will captain Ireland for the opening game of the tournament, with Murphy including 14 players who featured during the Grand Slam-winning campaign in his starting XV for the clash against Les Bleus on Friday night.
Winger Shay McCarthy is in line for his Ireland U-20 debut in the back three, where he is joined by Dylan O’Grady and Aitzol King.
Fionn Gibbons partners Daniel Hawkshaw in midfield, with the Munster duo of Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan named in the half-backs.
Junior Boks shuffle team for Irish clash
Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko has shuffled his forward pack and his replacements bench for Wednesday’s second pool match of the Six Nations U20 Summer Series against Ireland in Verona, Italy.
The match kicks off at 20h00 and will be streamed live on www.springboks.rugby, as well as broadcast live on SuperSport.
Nhleko has kept the starting backline who did duty in the win over England intact, but he has freshened up the pack for the expected fiery battle against Ireland, who won the U20 Six Nations competition earlier this year.
Junior Bok assistant coach Chean Roux has called on the team to raise their intensity if they want to topple a very good Irish side, adding that squad rotation is necessary because of the short turnaround time between games.
“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,” said Roux.
“They are a proud team who showed what they’re capable of during their recent successful U20 Six Nations campaign, so we have no doubt what they will bring against us.”
The Junior Springbok team to face Ireland in Verona:
15 Duran Koevort (DHL WP)
14 Donovan Don (Down Touch Griffons)
13 Ethan James (DHL WP)
12 Carlton Banies (Vodacom Bulls)
11 Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL WP)
10 Sacha Mngomezulu (captain, DHL WP)
9 Nico Steyn (Lions)
8 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)
7 Louw Nel (DHL WP)
6 Paul de Villiers (DHL WP)
5 Reinhardt Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls)
4 Corne Rahl (Cell C Sharks)
3 Sivuyise Mabece (Vodacom Bulls)
2 Tiaan Lange (Vodacom Bulls)
1 Corne Lavagna (Vodacom Bulls)
Replacements:
16 Lukhanyo Vokozela (DHL WP)
17 Lamla Nunu (DHL WP)
18 Corne Weilbach (DHL WP)
19 Connor Evans (DHL WP)
20 Siya Ningiza (Cell C Sharks)
21 Niel le Roux (Vodacom Bulls)
22 Compion von Ludwig (Vodacom Bulls)
23 Katlego Letebele (Vodacom Bulls)
24 Ruan Venter (Lions)
25 Gcino Mdletshe (Vodacom Bulls)
26 Imad Khan (DHL WP)
