Richie Murphy has named his Ireland U20s squad for Thursday night's Six Nations showdown with England at Cardiff Arms Park (live on the RTÉ Player and RTÉ News channel, 8pm).
Ireland have made the perfect start to the championship, picking up bonus-point wins over Scotland and Wales, and could take a major stride towards a Grand Slam with victory over the English.
Murphy has made two changes to his starting XV for Thursday, with Temi Lasisi and Sam Illo returning to the front row. Alex Kendellen once again captains the side from the back row.
In the back line it's as you were wit. Jamie Osborne, Ben Moxham and Chris Cosgrave continue in the back three, with Connacht duo Cathal Forde and Shane Jennings selected in midfield.
Nathan Doak, who scored 20 points and was named Player of the Match for his performance against Wales last time out, is retained at scrum-half, with Tim Corkery named at out-half.
The two remaining unbeaten teams in the #U20SixNations go head to head on Thursday. Watch #IREvENG live on @RTEPlayer and the @RTENews channel from 7.50pm and follow our live tracker with RTÉ Sport online. @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/l8l6HHQ8P0
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 30, 2021
Lasisi and Illo pack down either side of hooker Ronan Loughnane, while the second row pairing of Alex Soroka and Harry Sheridan is unchanged.
Kendellen is joined in the back row by Donnacha Byrne and Oisin McCormack.
"We have been pleased with our start to the Championship, but we know we must continue to make improvements week-on-week, starting on Thursday evening against a very strong England side," said head coach Murphy.
"The squad have worked incredibly hard on optimising our recovery in between matches and we go into Thursday's game confident that we are moving in the right direction."
Ireland: Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Naas RFC/Leinster), Ben Moxham (Larne High School/Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Cathal Forde (Colaiste Iognaid/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Chris Cosgrave (St Michael's College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Tim Corkery (St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny/UCD RFC/Leinster), Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster); Temi Lasisi (CBS Enniscorthy/Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster), Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster), Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster), Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht), Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster)(Captain)
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin/An Ghaeltacht/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Jack Boyle (St Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Garryowen FC/Munster), Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster), Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster), Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris/Shannon RFC/Munster), Chay Mullins (SGC Filton/Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby).
Watch Ireland U20s v England U20s live on the RTÉ Player and RTÉ News channel, Friday, 8pm
