Ireland's U20s will be without Leinster loosehead Alex Usanov as they look to get their Six Nations Championship back on track against Scotland on Saturday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Neil Doak’s side saw their 15-game unbeaten run in the competition ended by world champions England last Thursday, losing 19-3 in Cork, and the head coach has made three changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Scotland in Edinburgh.
Powerful loosehead prop Usanov, one of the returning players from last year’s side, misses out after picking up an early injury in last week’s defeat, and is replaced in the starting side by Connacht’s Billy Bohan in the only change to the starting pack.
Doak has made two changes to his backline, as well as a couple of positional switches.
Ulster’s Daniel Green comes in at full-back, which sees Charlie Molony move to the right wing, and Derry Moloney drop out of the squad.
There’s also a change in the centre where Munster’s Gene O’Leary Kareem starts in the 13 shirt where he partners Connor Fahy, who moves from outside to inside centre.
Clark Logan and Sam Wisniewski (above) go again in the half-backs, while Ciarán Mangan – younger brother of Leinster back row Diarmuid – starts on the left wing.
In the pack, Henry Walker and Alex Mullan pack down alongside Bohan in the front row, with Old Wesley pair Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan at lock.
The back row is also unchanged, with Connacht’s Éanna McCarthy captaining the side, wedged between flankers Michael Foy and Bobby Power.
Scotland lost 22-10 at home to Italy in their 2025 opener, and haven’t beaten Ireland in this competition since 2015.
Ireland: Daniel Green; Charlie Molony, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Connor Fahy, Ciarán Mangan; Sam Wisniewski, Clark Logan; Billy Bohan, Henry Walker, Alex Mullan; Mahon Ronan, Billy Corrigan; Michael Foy, Bobby Power, Éanna McCarthy (capt).
Replacements: Connor Magee, Paddy Moore, Tom McAllister, David Walsh, Oisin Minogue, Will Wootton, Dylan Hicks, Eoghan Smyth.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Scotland v Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations on Sunday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
