O’Halloran starts for new-look Irish U-20s

IRISH U20 coach Allen Clarke has shuffled his deck for tomorrow night’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Dubarry Park, (7.35pm, RTÉ Two).

Tiernan O’Halloran, who recently made his debut for Connacht, is handed a first start of the season on the wing. There is also a new look to the front row as Jack O’Connell moves from tight head to loose head with Stewart Maguire moving up from the replacements for a first start. There are two new faces on the bench, with Leinster’s Risteard Byrne and Munster’s Gareth Quinn McDonogh coming into the 22 for the first time.

Clarke said: “The changes reflect the quality of the player group. Stewart Maguire has been impressive when launched from the bench and Tiernan O’Halloran has returned to the form he was displaying prior to sustaining an injury in a warm-up match in December. Gareth’s inclusion in the replacements is reward for his performances in the AIB League with Shannon as is that of Risteard Byrne with UCD.”

Clarke continued: “There is an appetite within the squad to develop as individuals and as a team. The attention to detail and focus to improve reflect the squad ambition to build on our championship performances.”

Meanwhile Irish women’s coach Kevin West has promoted centre Alison Miller and winger Grace Davitt from the bench for tomorrow night’s tie with Wales (Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm). The hosts were beaten 22-5 by England in their last outing.

IRELAND U20 (v Wales): A Conway (Blackrock/Leinster), D Hudson (St Mary’s/Leinster), B Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), N Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), T O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht), J McKinney (Queen’s University/Ulster), J Cooney (UCD/Leinster), J O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), S Maguire (Old Belvedere/ Leinster), D O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster), B Marshall (UCD/Leinster), R Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (Capt.), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P Butler (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements: R Byrne (UCD/Leinster), B Cagney (UCC/Munster), B Hayes (Cork Con/Munster), R O’Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster), M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), G Quinn McDonogh (Shannon/ Munster), E Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht).

IRELAND WOMEN (v Wales): N Briggs (Clonmel/Munster), A Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), J O’Sullivan (Richmond/Exile), G Davitt (Blackrock/Leinster), A Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht), H Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), T Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), F Coghlan (UL Bohs/Leinster), C Fanning (Highfield/Munster), L Day (Cooke/Ulster), K O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), M Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster), O Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), C Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), J Neville (UL Bohs/Munster).

Replacements: G Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), L Austin (UL Boh/Munster), C Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht), S Ryan (Navan/Leinster), L Beamish (UL Bohs/Munster), S Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), N Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster).