Munster duo O'Leary Kareem and Wood named to start under-20 clash with France

Munster pair Eoghan Smyth and Gene O'Leary Kareem are selected to partner each other in midfield for the first time this campaign.

Munster and Ireland under-20 centre Gene O’Leary Kareem. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Ireland under-20s head coach Neil Doak has named his side for Friday night's Six Nations clash against France in Cork (kick-off 8pm).

Doak's outfit return home to Virgin Media Park for the Round 4 clash against France, with Connacht's Éanna McCarthy once again named to captain the side.

Munster pair Eoghan Smyth and Gene O'Leary Kareem have been selected to partner each other in midfield for the first time this campaign, with Connor Fahy among the replacements.

Daniel Green, Charlie Molony and Ciaran Mangan are named in the Ireland back three.

There's a new-look half-back pairing as Will Wootton and Tom Wood - son of Ireland legend Keith - start at scrum-half and out-half respectively, with Clark Logan and Sam Wisniewski dropping to the bench 

In the pack, Billy Bohan, Mikey Yarr and Alex Mullan start in the front row, with Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan in the engine room.

Michael Foy is at blindside flanker, Bobby Power at openside and captain McCarthy is at the back of the scrum at number eight.

On the bench, Henry Walker, Paddy Moore, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennelly and David Walsh provide the forward replacements, with backs Logan, Wisniewski and Fahy completing the 23.

Ireland: D. Green; C. Molony, G. O’Leary Kareem, E. Smyth, C. Mangan; T. Wood, W. Wootton; B. Bohan, M. Yarr, A. Mullan; M. Ronan, B. Corrigan; M. Foy, B. Power, É. McCarthy. 

Replacements: H. Walker, P. Moore, T. McAllister, C. Kennelly, D. Walsh, C. Logan, S. Wisniewski, C. Fahy.