Fitzgerald out for clash with Wales

IRELAND’S U-20’s have lost their most experienced player, Luke Fitzgerald, for tonight’s clash with Wales at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

Fitzgerald, who won a full Irish cap against the Pacific Islands in November, is out with a neck injury and his place at full back is taken by Seapoint’s Felix Jones.

Newport Gwent Dragons centre Ashley Smith will bridge a four-year gap when he leads Wales.

Smith last captained a team when he was in charge of Newport U-15s and will be leading a Welsh side seeking some revenge for their 20-15 defeat by Ireland last April in the fifth place play-off match in the IRB U-19 World Cup in Dubai.

He is one of 10 players in tomorrow’s starting line-up who figured in that game, while the Irish will parade six of their winning side with a further three on the bench.

Commenting on the task, Smith said: “I am excited at the challenge and hope I can bring something new to the team in this role.

“The Irish age grade sides tend to mirror the style of the senior side so we will be expecting a running backline and, with Eric Elwood as coach of the U-20 team, I’m sure they will also have a good kicking game.

“Playing regional rugby this season has certainly given some of our team members the experience of high intensity rugby and the physicality that comes with playing against current and former internationals and British and Irish Lions.” he said.

Wales will also come up against a familiar name in the Irish back row in Thomas Anderson — son of 27-times capped Willie Anderson.

WALES U20: Martyn Thomas (Llanelli/Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Llanelli/Scarlets), James Lewis (Bedwas/Dragons), Ashley Smith (Newport/Dragons, captain), Thomas James (Cardiff/Blues); Rhys Priestland (Llanelli/Scarlets), Robert Lewis (Neath/Ospreys); Hugh Gustafson (Llanelli/Scarlets), Ken Owens (Llanelli/Scarlets), Jamie Corsi (Newport/Dragons), Bradley Davies (Cardiff/Blues), Lou Reed (Llanelli/Scarlets), Danny Lydiate (Ebbw Vale/Dragons), James Harris (Bedwas/Dragons), Lewis Evans (Newport/Dragons)

Replacements: Ben Flower (Bedwas/Dragons), Kieron Jenkins (Glam Wands/Blues), Adam Brown (Bedwas/Dragons), Sam Kiley (Swansea/Ospreys), Darren Allinson (Cardiff/Blues), Rhys Jones (Sale Sharks), Richard Thomas (Aberavon/Scarlets)

IRELAND U20: Felix Jones (Seapoint/ Leinster); Shane Monahan (Dublin University/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Aidan Wynne (Buccaneers/Connacht), Keith Earles (Thomond/Munster); Ian Keatley (UCD/Leinster), Paul O’Donohoe (UCD/Leinster); David Millard (Belfast Harlequins), Richard Sweeney (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Jamie Hagan (Greystones/Leinster), Conor McInerney (UCD/Leinster), Andrew Browne (Galwegians/Connacht), Thomas Anderson (Dungannon/Ulster), David Pollock (Captain, QUB/Ulster), Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)

Replacements: Ger Slattery (Young Munster/Munster), Ruaidhri Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Neilus Keogh (UCC/Munster), Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemian/Munster), David Drake (Ballymena/Ulster), Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Kyle Tonnetti (Blackrock/Leinster)