Clarke looking forward to U20 showdown with Welsh

IRISH U20 coach Allen Clarke is preparing himself for a difficult but exciting night at the office in Dubarry Park, Athlone, tonight (7.30) when Wales come in search of glory.

Wales head coach Phil Davies has made two changes to the side that beat France 43-8 a fortnight ago for the crunch clash against Ireland, who stride confidently into this game after a quality 25-10 win over England on the same weekend.

Dan Watchurst missed the France game through illness and returns in place of Rhodri Jones, who has sustained an injury and Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies makes his first full start for the national team.

Clarke, meanwhile, is proud of his charges who recovered from a narrow defeat away to France to hammer England and establish a lead at the top of the table.

Clarke has been able to select from a full deck and that is further good news, although it has prompted him to make some changes. Tiernan O’Halloran is to make his first start of the campaign on the left wing, Jack O’Connell moves to loose head from tight head and Stewart Maguire is promoted from the replacements for his first start.

Clarke said: “Whilst the decision to alternate the squad was given much consideration, the changes reflect the quality of the group. Planning has gone well. There is an appetite within the squad to develop. We will show Wales the respect they deserve but we will be looking to improve our position to give us a real chance of taking the title.”

IRELAND U20: A Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster), D Hudson (St. Mary’s College/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) captain; D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P Butler (Shannon/Munster) Replacements. R Byrne (UCD/Leinster), B Cagney (UCC/Munster) B Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster), R O’Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster) M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), G Quinn McDonogh (Shannon/ Munster) E Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht).

WALES U20: D Fish (Blues); J Loxton (Blues), B John (Ospreys), S Williams (Scarlets), K Phillips (Ospreys); M Jarvis (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); D Watchurst (Dragons), R Williams (Blues), S Gardiner (Scarlets), M Cook (Blues), L Peers (Ospreys), M Allen (Pontypool), J Navidi (Blues) captain; Toby Faletau (Dragons) Replacements: I Davies (Glamorgan Wanderers), T Davies (Scarlets), J Thomas (Dragons), R Jenkins (Dragons), E Siggery (Llandovery), R Downes (Blues), D Gunter (Blues).