Unchanged U20s in Grand Slam decider

COACH Eric Elwood has named an unchanged Ireland U20 team for tomorrow’s Grand Slam decider against Italy.

The side clinched the Triple Crown last weekend with a 31-8 victory over Scotland, and are warm favourites to complete a clean sweep against their hosts in the Santa Colomba Stadium, in Benevento (near Naples).

Said Elwood: “We all know what a great opportunity this is, but rather than focus on the prize at the end, we are looking for the players to focus on the performance.”

He added: “In the game against Scotland, we probably had a certain amount of nerves and played a little bit within ourselves in the first half, but the second half was a vast improvement and near the levels we wanted.

“Italy will be a big challenge and will be very physical up front, as they have shown in their previous games, so we have to be able to meet that challenge.

“The championship has allowed the players to prosper and play to their potential, and, if they continue to do that, hopefully we will be on the right side of the result”.

Meanwhile, the Ireland U19 team play their final international friendly before next month’s World Championship when they take on Italy, in Parma, on Sunday (1.30pm).

IRELAND U20 (v Italy U20): F Jones, (Sea point/Leinster); S Monahan, (Dublin University/Leinster); D Cave, (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); A Wynne,(Buccaneers/Connacht); K Earls, (Thomond/Munster); I Keatley, (UCD/Leinster); P O’Donohoe, (UCD/Leinster; C Healy, (Clontarf/Leinster); R Sweeney, (St. Mary’s College/Leinster); J Hagan,(Greystones/Leinster); C Mc Inerney, (UCD/Leinster); A Browne, (Galwegians/Connacht); T Anderson, (Dungannon/Ulster); K Sheahan, (UCD/Leinster); D Pollock Captain, (QUB/Ulster) Replacements: G Slattery, (Young Munster/Munster); R Murphy, (Lansdowne/Leinster); N Keogh, (UCC/Munster); E Grace, (Shannon/Munster); D Drake, (Ballymena/Ulster); N O’Connor, (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); K Tonetti, (Blackrock College/Leinster).

IRELAND U19 (v Italy U19): A Craig, (Instonians); N Morris, (Blackrock College); E O’Malley, (UCD); M Kinsella, (Newtown School, Waterford); A Gaughan, (Buccaneers); D Fitzpatrick, (Blackrock College); K Greene, (St. Mary’s College); P Karayiannis, (RBAI/Queen University); S Douglas, (Ballymena); M Nelson, (Ballynahinch); B Cawley, (UCD); D Foley, (UL Bohemians); K Essex, (CBC Cork/UCC); M Entwistle, (Ballymena); P Ryan (C), (Blackrock College).

Replacements: D Moore, (Blackrock College); M Dufficy, (Dublin University); T Seymour, (Down High School); J Smith, (Ballymena) ; J Simon Byrne, (Blackrock College); S Archer, (UCD); P McCabe, (Dublin University); M Sherry, (Ard Scoíl Rís/Garryowen); I Nagle, (Glenstal Abbey); D Johnston, (Belfast Harlequins); J Harris Wright (Blackrock College).