Ireland have prepared for quick turnarounds, insists captain Bishti

Ireland take on Argentina on Thursday (12.30pm Irish) in a game which will decide whether they remain in contention for a semi-final spot or face getting caught up in the relegation battle as they did last year.

Ireland's Sami Bishti leads his side out. Pic: Levan Verdzeuli/Inpho

The demands of playing five games in 21 days takes a huge toll in the Georgia-based Junior World Championship but Ireland captain Sami Bishti said it is something they prepared for.

They take on Argentina on Thursday (12.30pm Irish) in a game which will decide whether they remain in contention for a semi-final spot or face getting caught up in the relegation battle as they did last year.

"We understand the nature of the competition – the five-day turnaround and how difficult that can be – but I think our preparation is going to set up well for that. We’re incredibly grateful to be here as a group and as a squad,” said the former Blackrock College hooker who skippered them to finish second in the Six Nations after they bounced back from an opening day loss to France.

"I suppose we finished off the competition well – and were lucky enough to get the Triple Crown – but we know as a group that we had more to bring.

"That’s what is pushing us on again and motivating us to get the best out of each other to see how far we can go in the tournament to do as best we can."

It’s the first time Ireland have met Argentina at this grade since they defeated them 37-7 in 2016 to reach their inaugural Junior World Championship final, where they went down to England in the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester.

Four members of that Irish U-20 squad, which was coached by Nigel Carolan, are currently in Australia preparing for the opening of the Nations Championship, while four more of that squad from 2016 have also been capped at senior level.

It’s further proof that the U-20 grade is a good pathway to professional rugby with the crew from ten years ago defeating Argentina Jacob Stockdale, Hugo Keenan, James Ryan and Jimmy O’Brien are currently on duty with Andy Farrell’s squad, while Andrew Porter, Max Deegan, Will Connors and Shane Daly are the other members of the 2016 squad who have gone on to win senior caps.

The current crop’s frustrating 34-27 loss to England in the opening game leaves them with no wriggle room but a win over Argentina, along with the two bonus points they got on Saturday, would keep them in contention. 

However, only the pool winner goes through to the semi-finals in the expanded 16-team tournament in Georgia, so Ireland need to beat Argentina and then hope the young Pumas oust England in their final game.

Argentina, semi-finalists last year, trounced USA 78-14 in their opening game, surpassing their record 46-5 win over Italy in 2015. 

They ran in a dozen tries against the Americans.

Ireland winger Daniel Ryan was one of five players to score a hat-trick on the opening weekend and head coach Andrew Browne will be looking for an improved lineout to augment their strong scrum and exciting backline where Jack Deegan teams up with James O’Leary in a strong centre partnership.

Deegan, a former Cistercian College Roscrea student, is one of four players to come into the side for this clash with Tom Wood at outhalf, Joe Finn (another ex-Cistercian Roscrea pupil) at lock and Alex Lautsou at openside as they bid to stay alive in the competition.

A similar recovery in this one against Argentina will get them back on track in this competition as well but they will need to be more efficient than they were against England and make sure possession is turned into something tangible this time.

Ireland U-20 (v Argentina): N Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster); C Molony (UCD/Leinster), J Deegan (Blackrock/Leinster), J O'Leary (UCC/Munster), D Ryan (Corinthians/Connacht); T Wood (Garryowen/Munster), C Barrett (UCC/Munster); M Doyle (UCD/Leinster), R Handley (Old Wesley/Leinster), S Bishti (UCD/Leinster) (capt); J Finn (Garryowen/Munster), D McGuire (UCD/Leinster); J Neill (Old Wesley/Leinster), A Lautsou (Shannon/Munster), D O'Connell (Corinthians/Connacht). 

Replacements: D Maguire (UCD/Leinster), A Cooper (Buccaneers/Connacht), B McClean (Instonians/Ulster), D McNeice (UCD/Leinster), B Blaney (Terenure/Leinster), J O'Dwyer (Old Belvedere/Leinster), C O'Shea (UCC/Munster), R Carney (Cashel/Munster).