Wales expect to meet ‘well-drilled’ Irish side

AFTER consecutive away victories, Darren Edwards has made four changes for Wales U20’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland at Parc Y Scarlets tonight (7.10 pm).

Scarlets loose head prop Rhodri Jones will run out on home turf as he makes his return to the pack along with lock Matthew Screech and Ben Thomas.

And, in the backs, Aberavon’s Ben John will team up with Owen Williams at centre as Wales look to record a third straight victory.

Former London Irish scrum-half Edwards believes it will be a challenging match, particularly as Ireland are coached by a man he admires greatly — former Welsh Grand Slam guru Mike Ruddock.

“With this selection, we are pretty close to our strongest side, but there are still a few places up for grabs where players have been given some extra game time to prove themselves. But Ireland have also beaten Scotland and Italy and will, with Mike Ruddock in charge, be a well-drilled side.”

WALES U20: S Shingler (Scarlets/Llanelli), A Warren (Llandovery), B John (Ospreys/ beravon), O Williams (Blues/Cardiff), H Robinson (Blues), M Morgan (Ospreys/Swansea), L Jones (Pontypridd), R Jones (Scarlets/Llanelli), K Myhill (Scarlets/Llanelli), W Taylor (Ospreys/Swansea), S Macauley Cook (Blues/Cardiff), M Screech (Blues/Pontypridd), E Siggery (Pontypridd), L Hamilton (Blues/Glamorgan Wanderers), B Thomas (Ospreys/Bridgend).

Replacements: S Parry (Llandovery), R Evans (Scarlets/Carmarthen Quins), C Hill (Blues/Pontypridd), O Sheppeard (Blues/Pontypridd), J Evans (Dragons/Newport), R James (Carmarthen Quins), J Griffin (Blues/Cardiff)

IRELAND U20: M Sherlock (Clontarf/Leinster), C Gilroy (Dungannon/ Ulster), A Kelly (UCD/Leinster), L Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), A Boyle (UCD/Leinster), P Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), B McIlroy (Ballymena/Ulster), J Tracy (UCD/Leinster), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), M Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster), M Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster), D Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), S Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), A Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht), J Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements: D Doyle (UCD/Leinster), T Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), I Henderson (Queens/Ulster), C O’Flaherty (Cork Con/Munster), M Dolan (Corinthians/Connacht), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster), T O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht).

Ireland Clubs v Scotland at Netherdale, tonight (7.30).

IRELAND CLUBS: J O’Brien (Buccaneers), J Cleary (Galwegians), E Moloney (Dolphin), E Ryan (Clontarf), D Mongan (Old Belvedere), B Keeshan (Dolphin), M D’Arcy (St. Mary’s College), J Ryan (UCC), R Sweeney (St. Mary’s College), C Condon (Dolphin), P Donnellan (UCC), S Crawford (Clontarf), H Hogan (St. Mary’s College), B O’Mahony (Clontarf), F Cogan (Cork Constitution, captain)