While their own destiny is out of their hands, Ireland Under-20s task is simple: beat Scotland and sit back and hope France can deny England.
Richie Murphy's side's final game of the Six Nations championship is at 7pm on Friday night in Cork, with England’s clash with France in Pau not starting until an hour later after a late bid to synchronise the kick-offs fell through.
After four rounds the defending champions sit one point behind table-toppers England. The sides played out a thrilling 32-32 draw last weekend after both won their three previous matches.
"We can’t control what England and France are doing so we just need to concentrate on ourselves," said backs coach Ian Keatley after the team was named on Wednesday afternoon.
"We’ve kinda gradually got better through the tournament and we're just trying to get our best performance yet against a dogged Scottish side.
"They haven't won a match yet but they’ve been quite competitive. We’ve got to win the match first and then see what we can do to put points on the board because it might come down to that."
Ireland, who won Grand Slams in 2022 and 2023, are still in the mix thanks to a late converted try against England in The Rec last weekend.
"At the time we felt that we got out of jail, great resilience from the lads," added the former Munster and Ireland out-half.
"We played Leinster earlier on in the campaign and we came back. That was the messaging: we've done this before, believe, be brave and they did that.
"It was great to get the draw but when you review it, I think we had six or seven clean line breaks and we only finished half of them so there were so many opportunities left out there.
"We could have easily lost it but probably should have won it.
"That’s the way it is, we’re still in the competition, we’ve got a chance to win the championship and if things go our way, a little out of our hands, just make sure we put in a good performance against Scotland."
Murphy has once again named an unchanged backline as Ben O’Connor, Finn Treacy and Hugo McLaughlin continuing in the Ireland back three. Hugh Gavin and Wilhelm de Klerk are named in the midfield, with Jack Murphy and Oliver Coffey in the half-backs.
In the pack, Alex Usanov, Henry Walker and Jacob Boyd are in the front row, with Joe Hopes moving back to the second row to partner captain Evan O’Connell.
Sean Edogbo returns to the starting XV at blindside flanker, Bryn Ward is at openside and Luke Murphy continues at number 8.
Ireland U20s: Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster); Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Henry Walker (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt); Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster),
8. Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster).
Replacements: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), James McKillop (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster).
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