Scots unchanged as Ireland bid to clinch title

HAVING made their home in Athlone’s Dubarry Park, Ireland will be expected to step up to the mark and beat Scotland to clinch the Six Nations U20 title this evening (7.35pm).

But coach Allen Clarke has been around long enough to take Scotland seriously at all times and he has taken particular note of the fact that they held France to a draw in their opening match, that they defeated Italy away from home and lost narrowly to Wales before getting a bit of a hiding from England.

But the Scots feel not much went right for them last time out against the old enemy and have decided no change in personnel is necessary.

For this game Clarke has made two changes to the side which defeated Wales with Simon Zebo returning to the team to replace the injured Darren Hudson on the left wing. Eoin Griffin, who scored as a replacement against Wales, comes in for Brendan Macken at 13.

The Irish U20s currently sit top of the table with three wins from their opening four games. They are level on six championship points with second-placed England but boast a 17-point lead over the English side in terms of scoring difference.

As his charges gun for a Championship and Triple Crown double, Clarke said: “The players are aware of the consequences of this game and the opportunity as a result of the performances to date.

“However, the approach is to focus on the things which we can control; in simple terms respecting the opposition in preparing for ‘another Test match’ with the same diligence, concentration and desire to improve individually and collectively, while ensuring rest and enjoyment at the appropriate times.

“The mood in the camp is good and there is a real sense of desire to deliver the required performance in what will be another tough encounter against Scotland.”

On the prospect of facing an Ireland side currently top of the championship table, Scotland coach Eamon John said: “They are a good side and favourites for the championship. Credit to them, we respect them but we certainly don’t fear them.

“All the big guns have been scalped there but we’re going to concentrate on the lessons learned through experience against England and go there with a real hunger.”

IRELAND U20: A Conway (Blackrock/Leinster), T O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht), E Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht), N Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), S Zebo (Cork Con/Munster), J McKinney (Queen’s/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 (do, 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), B Macken (Blackrock/Leinster).

SCOTLAND U20: T Brown (Edinburgh Academicals), O Grove (Worcester), J Johnstone (Currie), A Dunbar (Selkirk), D Fife (Currie), A Blair (Edinburgh Academicals), A Black (Leeds), N Little (Hawick), A Walker (Currie), C Phillips (Stewarts Melville), M Reid (Heriots), R Harley (West of Scotland), M Matman (Heriots), S McInally (Watsonians), D Denton (Edinburgh Academicals).

Replacements: L Gibson (Melrose), G Hunter (Glasgow), A Hall (Newcastle), C Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), K Hamilton (Caithness), M Scott (Currie), D Weir (Glasgow Hawks).