Ruddock positive ahead of English opener

IRELAND U20s head coach Mike Ruddock is hoping the return of some key players will enable his side spring a surprise in their IRB Junior World Championship opener against England in Treviso tonight.

The English completed a Grand Slam in this year’s Six Nations by routing their Irish counterparts 46-15 in Athlone and they have, unsurprisingly, named an unchanged line-up for the game at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Ireland, though, have made 11 changes in personnel to the side which capitulated at Dubarry Park, the most notable of which are the return of Leinster winger Andrew Conway and Ulster duo Luke Marshall and Craig Marshall to the back-line.