Do or die for Irish U20s

Skipper Luke McGrath could this evening become the first man to lead an Irish team to victory over New Zealand in a competitive fixture when they take on the Baby Blacks in the key Pool B game in the Junior World Championship (kick-off 5.45pm Irish time, live on TG4).

McGrath, a nephew of ERC chief executive Derek McGrath, said that they were in a confident frame of mind after the wins over Australia and Fiji.

“We have trained well this week, we know what we are facing in the Baby Blacks but we are ready to give it a shot,” said McGrath last night.

Coach Mike Ruddock has made eight changes from the side which hammered Fiji 46-3 but is without injured place-kicker Tom Daly, who has not recovered from a hand injury sustained in that win.

Last year’s fifth place in South Africa was Ireland’s best finish since the tournament began in 2008 and victory today will not only secure a semi-final spot for the first time but also eliminate the Baby Blacks, who won the competition for the opening four seasons and were runners-up last year.

The sides are level on nine points at the top of the pool with New Zealand — who have scored 10 tries to Ireland’s seven — enjoying a marginally superior points difference but ultimately, placings are decided on the outcome of matches between sides.

New Zealand’s preparations for the game have been disrupted with the news that prop Alex Hodgman has been ruled out for the remainder of this tournament with a shoulder injury and his replacement (Daniel Lienert-Brown) has not yet arrived in France because of a strike by air traffic controllers.

IRELAND: D Leader (Galwegians/Connacht); A Byrne (UCD/Leinster), T Farrell (Lansdowne /Leinster), R Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), R Scholes (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); S Crosbie (Old Belvedere/Leinster), L McGrath (UCD /Leinster); P Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster), G McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons), C Taylor (Malone/Ulster); G Thornubury (UCD/Leinster), J Donnan (Ballynahinch/Ulster); D Leavy (UCD/Leinster), J van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), C Joyce (Malone/Ulster).

Replacements: E Byrne (UCD/Leinster), B Byrne (UCD/Leinster), A Boland (Lansdowne/Connacht), P Timmins (UCD/Leinster), R Murphy (Dolphin/Munster), D Shanahan (Clontarf /Leinster), M Roche (Lansdowne/Connacht), D Sweetnam (UCC/Munster).