O'Shea starts at out-half as Ireland under-20s side named for Junior World Championship opener

Munster out-half Tom Wood is kept in reserve.

Charlie O'Shea kicks a penalty during the Pinergy Boys Schools U19 Munster Senior Cup final. Pic: Dan Linehan

Ireland under-20s head coach Andrew Browne has named his starting 15 for Saturday’s opening World Rugby Junior World Championship clash against England in Georgia.

Ireland kick off their Pool C campaign against familiar Six Nations rivals at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi (Kick-off 12.30pm Irish time).

Sami Bishti captains the side from tighthead prop as Browne's squad look to make a strong start to the tournament.

Noah Byrne, Charlie Molony and Daniel Ryan start in Ireland’s back three, with former PBC man James O’Leary partnering Rob Carney in midfield and ex-CBC and current Munster duo Christopher Barrett and Charlie O’Shea named in the half-backs.

The front row sees Max Doyle, Rian Handley and captain Bishti pack down together, with Donnacha McGuire and Dylan McNeice forming the second row partnership.

The back row features Josh Neill at blindside flanker, Ben Blaney at openside and Diarmaid O'Connell completing Ireland’s starting team.

Among the replacements, Duinn Maguire, Adam Cooper, Jamie Conway, Paddy Woods, Alex Lautsou and backs James O'Dwyer, Tom Wood and Jack Deegan are poised to make an impact from the bench.

Ireland: N Byrne (Leinster); C Molony (Leinster), R Carney (Munster), J O’Leary (Munster), D Ryan (Connacht); C O’Shea (Munster), C Barrett (Munster); M Doyle (Leinster), R Handley (Leinster), S Bishti (Leinster); D McGuire (Leinster), D McNeice (Leinster); J Neill (Leinster), B Blaney (Leinster), D O’Connell (Connacht).

Replacements: D Maguire (Leinster), A Cooper (Connacht), J Conway (Munster), P Woods (Ulster), A Lautsou (Munster), J O’Dwyer (Leinster), T Wood (Munster), J Deegan (Leinster).