Elwood aims for another Grand Slam

IRISH U20 coach Eric Elwood isaiming for another Grand Slam success this season, but accepts that the fixture schedule is a tougher proposition this time around.

Italy are up first at Dubarry Park, Athlone, tonight (7.35, live on RTÉ 2) but Ireland have to make trips to France and England with what is a totally new team. There are no survivors from the successful side of last season.

Elwood yesterday described his squad as “hard-working and ambitious”. “The continuing cycle of underage rugby has meant that this year’s squad are all totally new to this level, but they have pulled together extremely well over the last number of weeks in practice games.

“Playing at Dubarry Park and starting the championship there is another big plus for us with the great support wealways receive in Athlone.

“However, playing Italy at any leveloffers a real physical challenge and this will be no different. We have ability across the team, but our first goal is to gain a foothold in the game in thephysical stakes and then progress from there. We can’t afford to let them get on top of us from that point of view.”

IRELAND: N. Morris (Leinster), D. Kearney (Leinster), E. O’Malley (Leinster), E. Sheridan (Leinster), C. Cochrane (Ulster), M. Dufficy (Leinster), D. Moore (Leinster), P. Karayiannis (Ulster), S. Douglas (Ulster), B. Barclay (Leinster), D. Nolan (Connacht), E. Sheriff (Leinster), K. Essex (Munster), P. Ryan (Leinster, captain), P. Mallon (Leinster)

Replacements: J. Harris-Wright (Leinster), S. Archer (Munster), J. Sandford (Ulster), I. Nagle (Munster), K. Green (Leinster), I. Madigan (Leinster), S. Scanlon (Munster).

Other U21 fixtures: Fri Feb 8: France v Ireland, Auch, 6.30pm; Fri Feb 22: Ireland v Scotland, Athlone, 7.30pm; Fri Mar 7: Ireland v Wales, Athlone, 7.35pm (live) RTÉ; Fri Mar 14: England v Ireland, Kingsholm, 7.45pm