Ireland U20s ready to renew electric rivalry with England in Cork

Ireland Rugby Under 20s Head Coach Neil Doak. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

If the U20s grade is rugby’s sweet spot between youthful enthusiasm and senior realpolitik then the recent rivalry between Ireland and England has showcased the game at this level like none other in the recent past.

The last three Six Nations meetings between these two has produced a grand total of 193 points and no less than 25 tries. There have been thrills and spills galore with the Irish winning two and drawing the other.

That said, the trend has been one of England closing the gap as the run has gone on. The draw in Bath last year ultimately gave them the Championship and prevented an historic three-in-a-row of Grand Slams for their visitors on the night.

Ireland welcome England to Cork’s Virgin Media Park on Thursday in the first round of the 2025 tournament with, as is customary at this level, a whole host of new faces on the field but, with that, a new coaching ticket to boot.

Neil Doak has stepped up to the role of head coach after Richie Murphy and Willie Faloon took turns last term but the message to the latest intake of players seems to be familiar and one that will find favour with the players and with the public.

“The message is to express ourselves and to play our brand of rugby,” said Eoghan Smyth who starts in the centre.

“At 20s level there will be mistakes and it’s just about trying to overcome that and play our game.”

England, who beat Ireland in the semi-final on their way to the world title last summer, have ten players back from the squad that claimed this title last year. Ireland have just half-a-dozen. Two, Alan Spicer and Will Wootton are not involved here.

Injuries have played their part in Doak’s first competitive selection but it is instructive that the Ulsterman has named four of his returnees from 2024 in the front five as Ireland look to stand up to England’s expected, and traditional, physicality.

Expectations will be high among the home support given the exploits at the 20s grade in recent times, and that’s no small thing for players who will be playing in front of 8,000 people and on live national TV for the first time.

“We’re putting on an Irish jersey. Everyone understands the privilege and the pressure but everyone wants to be in that situation,” said Smyth.

“That’s where we aim to be. Everyone is well able and just very excited for Thursday night.”

One difference this year is the fact that Ireland and England are meeting so early. The last three spring meetings have come in the last two rounds when teams and squads have had more time to gel and discover themselves as players and as a collective.

Smyth, one of four Munster players in the 23, is lucky in the sense that he has a history with Connor Fahy, the Leinster centre on duty here, in that the pair have lined up together with Ireland before at the U18 grade among others.

That understanding can’t be underestimated as the various component parts are bolted together the last few months via weeks in camp and preparatory games against developmental sides.

Smyth comes to the table having banked no little game time elsewhere too. A product of Midleton RFC, he landed in with Cork Constitution this season just as they were in need of someone to slot in at centre in the AIL.

Experience in November with Munster’s ‘A’ team has furthered an education that will push into overdrive in his home county this week.

“Pretty much all the family and the cousins will be there, so a bit of pressure on me, but it should be good fun.”

It usually is with these two.

Ireland: C Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster); D Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), C Fahy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), E Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), C Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); S Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), C Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster); A Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), H Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), A Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); M Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), B Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster); M Foy (UCC RFC/Munster), B Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), E McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(captain).

Replacements: C Magee (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), B Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), T McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), D Walsh (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), O Minogue (Shannon RFC/Munster), A Doyle (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), G O’Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster), D Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster).