Preview: Ireland U-20s on quest for glory

by Brendan Cole

After a sticky opening win against Wales and an epic success in France two weeks ago, Ireland's Under-20 side are firmly on the championship trail as they prepare to face Italy tonight.

<notforsyndication>Watch live WEB-ONLY coverage of the RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship meeting of Ireland and Italy at Dubarry Park in Athlone from 7pm tonight. Commentary from Hugh Cahill.</notforsyndication>

That extraordinary 13-12 victory over France was Ireland's first ever on French soil at this grade and it gives Ireland an excellent chance of at least finishing top in the standings.

Home matches against Italy and Scotland are up next and both are teams Ireland traditionally win well against.

A daunting final day clash with England at Adams Park on 16 March is the next match on the schedule and that is a difficult prospect, but this relatively experienced Ireland team is entitled to dream.

That said, Ireland will be aware that the French only managed a 19-5 home win over Italy last week and that should serve as plenty of warning that the Azzurrini may be a more capable outfit than usual.

That match was actually Italy's first of the tournament - their original fixtures against England and France had both been postponed - and head coach Craig Green expects improvement from his side as the progress through the tournament.

His Ireland Under-20 counterpart Mike Ruddock will be doing his level best to banish any thoughts of Grand Slam glory on the last day.

On the team selection front, Ruddock has opted to mix things up again.

The core of the backline remains intact with centre JJ Hanrahan and full-back Shane Layden, the most consistently impressive attacking talents to date, lining out for the third time.

The experienced Paddy Jackson continues at out-half but there is a change at scrum-half where Kieran Marmion comes back in for the precocious Luke McGrath. Foster Horan, a sub when he scored a remarkable solo try against the French, returns to the starting line-up on the wing.

Up front, Tadhg Beirne comes into the second row while Jordan Coughlan will start at openside. Conor Gilsenan and Jack Conan, both excellent in the campaign to date, are again picked at blindside and number eight.

Goalkicking has been Ireland’s main weakness so far with Jackson struggling to find his range from time to time. But on home turf and with three games under their belt to Italy's one, Ireland should be well capable of securing a third win on the bounce.

Elsewhere in the competition, England meet Wales and France meet Scotland in matches that should give Ireland good benchmarks for potentially crucial encounters over the weeks ahead.

Ireland Under-20s to meet Italy at Dubarry Park, Athlone on Friday, 24 February (7.05pm) – WEB-ONLY coverage RTÉ.ie/sport:

S Layden; C Finn, C Farrell, JJ Hanrahan, F Horan; P Jackson, K Marmion; K McCall, N Scannell, P Reilly, T Beirne, I Henderson, J Coghlan, C Gilsenan, J Conan

Replacements: J Rael, D Merrey, J Cawley, D Qualter, A Conneely, L McGrath, C Marsh, S Olding