Noel McNamara has made four changes to his Ireland Under-20 team ahead of Friday night's crunch Six Nations showdown with England at Franklin’s Gardens.
Ireland have two wins from two under the belt ahead of the trip across the water, but the English are also unbeaten having seen off the challenges of France and Scotland.
Something has to give.
"We're pleased to have won the opening two games, while still recognising that there is room for growth," said McNamara.
"The players are ambitious and they are constantly looking for improvements in their performance, both individually and collectively and that’s the target for Friday night.
"The fallow week was important as it allowed the players to take a breath and recover, as well as review the first block of games and look ahead to this weekend.
"We also had a great session with the Ireland senior team at our home in Irish Independent Park and are now firmly focused on the challenge ahead against England."
Ulster duo Ethan McIlroy and Hayden Hyde return after illness. In the pack, John McKee comes in for his first start of the Championship at hooker while Mark Hernan’s unavailability due to injury has forced a back-row reshuffle, with Dublin University flanker Alex Soroka set for his full debut at this level having come off the bench against Scotland.
Soroka starts at blindside with Sean O’Brien switching to the openside and captain David McCann continuing at the back of the scrum. The second-row pairing of Thomas Ahern and Brian Deeny remains unchanged.
McKee packs down in the front row alongside Clane RFC product Marcus Hanan, who retains his starting place after an impressive display against Wales, and the ever-present Thomas Clarkson - he's now started each of Ireland’s last eight Under-20 Six Nations games at tighthead.
McIlroy, who featured in the opening game win over Scotland, starts on the right wing with Oran McNulty and Andrew Smith continuing in the back three, while Hyde reforms his midfield partnership with Dan Kelly.
Out-half Jack Crowley has scored 29 points in this year’s Championship and partners Lewis Finlay in Ireland’s unchanged half-back pairing, with the fit-again Max O’Reilly, who is also involved in the Ireland Sevens programme, named among the replacements.
Ireland: Oran McNulty (Millfield School/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Ethan McIlroy (Methody College/Queens University RFC/Ulster), Dan Kelly (Kirkham Grammar/Loughborough University/IQ Rugby), Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Andrew Smith (St. Michael’s College/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Jack Crowley (Bandon RFC/Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Lewis Finlay (Down High School/Malone RFC/Ulster); Marcus Hanan (Clane RFC/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), John McKee (Campbell College/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Waterpark RFC/Shannon RFC/Munster), Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster), David McCann (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster) (captain)
Replacements: Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Newbridge College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Clontarf FC/Leinster), Tim Corkery (Kilkenny RFC/Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Max O’Reilly (St Gerard's School/Dublin University FC/Leinster).
