French to pose much tougher tests

Ireland’s U20s and Women’s: Both teams enjoyed ultimately comfortable openings to their respective Six Nations campaigns last Friday.

Tomorrow night will represent a significant step up in class for both Nigel Carolan’s and Tom Tierney’s sides, however, with imposing French teams providing the opposition at Dubarry Park and Ashbourne RFC, respectively.

Carolan has made two changes to the U20 side that ran in seven tries against the Azzurri. Stephen Fitzgerald replaces fellow Munster man Greg O’Shea out wide, though with Jack Owens moving wings to accommodate the alteration.