French will test young Ireland pretenders

Ireland U20 Six Nations: Ireland’s U20s did all that was expected of them, and maybe more, in beating Italy 47-15 seven days ago but a truer reflection of their collective worth lies in store tonight as they host Fabien Pelous’ French side at Dubarry Park in Athlone (7.05pm).

Four of the visitors’ number have played Top 14 already with Toulouse while Brive’s Fabien Sanconnie, Bordeaux’s Lucas Blanc and Castres’ Antoine Dupont are others who know what it is to sample the delights of their country’s top flight.

Ireland’s ambassadors at this age grade have little if no experience of such heightened surrounds. Apart from Garry Ringrose, that is, the highly-touted UCD and Leinster centre who was parachuted in to Joe Schmidt’s Ireland camp last year to cover for injuries.