Elwood names Irish team

THERE are three changes and one positional switch from the Ireland Under-20 side that lost to France for tomorrow night’s meeting with Scotland (Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.30pm).

Two of the changes are in the front five forwards: Jason Harris-Wright is at hooker instead of Stephen Douglas, while James Sandford replaces David Nolan. Nolan and Douglas are named in the replacements, while the final change sees Kris Greene drop out of the match 22, to be replaced by Ian Porter. The positional switch is in the back three, with David Kearney and Shane Scanlon swapping roles. Kearney moves to full back from right wing and Scanlon comes in at 14.

Ireland coach Eric Elwood said: “The game against France was another notch up with regards to the level of performance, but in the end the game just got away from us.

“Both Jason (Harris-Wright) and James (Sandford) played well when they came off the bench and have forced themselves into the team. There was a great attitude from the team when we got back together this week. The challenge is to raise our performance get a positive result.”

Meanwhile there is one change to the Ireland A team to play Scotland A tomorrow in Perth, Scotland (7.30pm). Cian Healy picked up a neck strain in training and is withdrawn. Munster prop Darragh Hurley replaces Healy and will go straight in at loose head. The replacement hooker position was decided after a Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin was cleared to feature following a disciplinary hearing.

IRELAND U-20 v Scotland U-20: D Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), S Scanlon (UCC/Munster), E O’Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster), E Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), C Cochrane (Queens University/Ulster), M Dufficy (Dublin University/Leinster), D Moore (Blackrock College/Leinster), P Karayiannis (Queens University/Ulster), J Harris-Wright (Greystones/Leinster), B Barclay (UCD/Leinster), J Sandford (Queens University/Ulster), En Sheriff (Lansdowne/Leinster), K Essex (UL Bohemians/Munster), P Ryan (C) (Blackrock College/Leinster), P Mallon (Lansdowne/Leinster).

Replacements: S Douglas (Ballymena/Ulster), S Archer (UCC/Munster), D Nolan (Galwegians/Connacht), I Nagle (UCC/Munster), I Porter (Queens University/Ulster), I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), C Cleary (Greystones/Leinster).