Ireland and England's U20 clash should ignite seven weeks of Six Nations action
BANGERS: Ireland and England's last three U20 Six Nations games have been classics. Pic: Harry Murphy, Sportsfile
If all eyes are straying towards Saturday’s meeting of Ireland and England in Dublin this week then there is plenty for the Six Nations aficionado to feast on before Simon Easterby’s lads get their bid for a Championship three-in-a-row underway.
France will get the senior tournament going on Friday night when Wales offer themselves up as sacrificial lambs in Saint-Denis, but the meeting of Ireland and England’s U20s in Cork on Thursday evening can get the next seven weeks off to an explosive start.
England denied Ireland an historic hat-trick of Grand Slams – and the 2024 title - by drawing in Bath eleven months ago, and came out on top again when edging a thrilling World Championship semi-final in South Africa during the summer.
The last three Six Nations meetings between these two have been absolute bangers and Mark Mapletoft brings a loaded roster to Cork’s Virgin Media Park that is dripping in equal parts with class and experience at this grade.
Eight of the XV named featured in their World Cup final defeat of France last year. Another three saw action in South Africa on the way to that decider. Ten of the 23 have already seen senior action with their club sides.
Among them is the classy openside flanker Henry Pollock who was player of the Six Nations in 2024. Already an England ‘A’ international, he has played 23 times for the Northampton Saints and spent time with Steve Borthwick’s Red Roses squad of late.
Another name of note is Junior Kpoku. England don’t select non-Premiership players at Test level but Kpoku has featured numerous times with Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92 in the Top 14. The third member of the back row, Kane James, is a returning ‘vet’ from 2024 too.
That unit alone speaks loudly for how testing this will be for Ireland. Another area of strength is the half-back pairing of Archie McParland and Benjamin Coen who already have ten U20 caps between them. This is a serious outfit.
“Without a shadow of a doubt,” said Ireland head coach Neil Doak. “You look at the likes of Pollock, who has come from the senior England squad, he has been going superbly well for Saints this year. The second rows have got a lot of exposure and in France and stuff.
“With nine or ten players coming back from a successful World Championship campaign, we are under no illusions of what lies ahead. We’re more than up for the challenge. We’ve prepped pretty well.”
Ireland, as is often the case against England and France at this grade, will field players with far less senior exposure, and there is always the question as to just how well the young men in green can match those two opponents in the physical stakes.
England have opted for a 6-2 split which suggests they will look to test their hosts in exactly that manner and Ireland are without a few key men, among them the Leinster second row Alan Spicer and the Sale Sharks scrum-half Will Wootton.
Second row Billy Corrigan is the only player in their 23 who featured in that World Championship defeat to England in Cape Town in July although the starting front row of Alex Usanov, Henry Walker and Alex Mullan all played at some point last year.
This sense of sweeping change is endemic to the 20s scene but it extends to the coaching staff with Doak, who served as an assistant last summer, assuming the reins for the first time after Richie Murphy and Willie Faloon took turns in 2024.
Doak is aided by Ian Keatley who provides a touch of continuity having been involved last time out. Former Connacht second row Andrew Browne and Seamus Toomey who was recently named as the IRFU’s performance pathway scrum coach, are others on board.
The brief remains the same regardless of those tasked with holding it.
This is a post that is part-developmental and part-performance. Doak is familiar with that given his previous experience as Ireland U18s coach and the fact that it is just four years since his son Nathan, now with Ulster, played for Ireland at the 20s level.
Time will be needed to gel these players together and mistakes are to be expected. As with previous managements, the aim is to provide a tight enough framework for the players to be comfortable but one loose enough for them to express themselves.
The first 20 minutes will be key.
“We can anticipate what England might throw at us, we can anticipate what defensive shapes they may look at, but ultimately on the night, it’s about the players making really clear decisions, and going after that and being as positive as they can.”
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