Clarke sticks with tried and tested U20s

IRISH U20 coach Allen Clarke has retained the side which defeated Italy 39-0 in Athlone last week for tomorrow night’s French assignment at the Stade de la Chevaliere in Mazament (RTE 2, 7.30pm).

There is optimism that this is one of the best under-age sides the country has produced and they shone against the Italians with the Blackrock College pair, Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken, especially impressive.

The back line is a potent outfit with Macken’s centre partner Nevin Spence from Ulster and Simon Zebo of Cork Constitution also capable of piercing any defence. Up front, great things are also expected of the UCC pair Bryan Cagney and David O’Callaghan and the former Rockwell boy Paddy Butler now starring with the Shannon seniors.

IRELAND U20: A Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster), D Hudson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), B Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), N Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), S Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster), J McKinney (Queens University/Ulster), J Cooney (UCD /Leinster), B Cagney (UCC/Munster), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), J O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster), D O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster), B Marshall (UCD/Leinster), R Ruddock (UCD/Leinster),(Capt), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P Butler (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements: D Doyle (UCD/Leinster), S Maguire (Old Belvedere/ Leinster), B Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster), R O’ Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster), M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), B Kingston (Blackrock/Leinster), E Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht).