Ruddock makes two changes for Ireland Under 20s

The Ireland Under 20 team Coach Mike Ruddock has brought two new faces into the side for their clash against their French counterparts in the RBS 6 Under 20 Nations Championship.

The side will take on their French counterparts

Ruddock side won their opening game against Wales, 11 - 6, last weekend in Athlone and will play France on Saturday afternoon in Stade Des Alpes, Grenoble.

Conor Finn has been brought into the starting XV to replace Barry Daly. Daly received a broken thumb in last week’s clash against Wales and underwent surgery on Sunday for same.

He is expected to be out of action for six weeks.

Diarmuid Higgins has been brought into the squad and will take his place on the bench replacing Jake Cawley who took a knock during last week’s game and is unavailable for selection this week.

Cawley is due to be available for selection for the Italy test.

Chris Farrell has been promoted from the bench to the Centre along with Scrum Half Luke McGrath, both of whom make their first start of the series.

Kieran Marmion and Foster Horan have been named in the replacements.

Ireland Under - 20 Team (v France Under - 20, RBS 6 Nations, Stade Des Alpes, Grenoble - February 11, 14.15 Irish time)

15 Shane Layden (Buccaneers - Connacht)

14 Conor Finn (Buccaneers - Connacht)

13 Chris Farrell (Dungannon - Ulster)

12 JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemian - Munster)

11 Sam Coghlan - Murray (UCD - Leinster)

10 Paddy Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster) (C)

9 Luke McGrath (UCD - Leinster)

1 Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch - Ulster)

2 Niall Scannell (Dolphin - Munster)

3 Peter Reilly (Lansdowne - Leinster)

4 Iain Henderson (QUB - Ulster)

5 Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)

6 Conor Gilsenan (UCD - Leinster)

8 Jack Conan (Old Belvedere - Leinster)

7 Aaron Conneely (Corinthians - Connacht)

Replacements:

16 Des Merrey (Clontarf - Leinster)

17 James Rael (Garryowen - Munster)

18 Diarmuid Higgins (Buccaneers - Connacht)

19 Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne - Leinster)

20 Jordan Coughlan (UCD - Leinster)

21 Kieran Marmion (Corinthians - Connacht)

22 Cathal Marsh (Dublin University - Leinster)

23 Foster Horan (Lansdowne - Leinster)