Ireland Under-20 team to play New Zealand U-20’s: Scholes > Taylor > Donnan > Joyce – IN

The Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PwC) to play New Zealand in their third test and final pool game of the IRB Junior World Championship has been named.

Coach Mike Ruddock has made changes to the side that overcame their Fijian counterparts in their last outing.

Up front, Peter Dooly and George McGuigan return to the front row alongside Christopher Taylor while in the back row Josh Van Der Flier comes in at blindside with Daniel Leavy moving to openside and Conor Joyce moving to No. 8.

There are four changes in the back line which sees the return of Adam Byrne to the wing and Luke McGrath to scrumhalf. Thomas Farrell and Rory Scannell make their return to the opening XV to make up the centre paring.

Speaking from the team base Mike Ruddock said:

“This is a big game for both sides, the winner of this will have a guaranteed place in the semi-finals.”

“We have a huge respect for New Zealand rugby and particularly their record at this age grade level, but once the whistle goes on Thursday we will be as competitive as we can be to progress to the next round.”

The games will be shown live on TG4.

Ireland Under-20 Team to play New Zealand Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship, Stade de la Rabine, Vannes, Sunday, 9th June, kick-off 18.45hrs local time/17.45hrs Irish Time)

15 – Darragh Leader (Galwegians/Connacht)
14 – Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
13 – Thomas Farrell (Lansdowne/Leinster)
12 – Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
11 – Rory Scholes (Belfast Harlequins /Ulster)
10 – Steve Crosbie (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9 – Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) Captain
1 – Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2 – George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons/Exile)
3 – Christopher Taylor (Malone/Ulster)
4 – Gavin Thornbury (UCD/Leinster)
5- John Donnan (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
6- Daniel Leavy (UCD /Leinster)
7- Josh Van Der Flier (UCD/Leinster)
8 – Conor Joyce (Malone/Ulster)

Replacements:
16- Edward Byrne (UCD /Leinster)
17- Bryan Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
18 – Adam Boland (Lansdowne/Connacht)
19 – Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)
20 – Ryan Murphy (Dolphin/Munster)
21 – David Shanahan (Clontarf/Leinster)
22- Mark Roche (Lansdowne/Connacht)
23 – Darren Sweetnam (UCC/Munster)

Pool B Fixtures and Results – Junior World Championship 2013(All times are local)
05 Jun, 18:45 Ireland – Australia Stade de la Rabine, Vannes 19-15
05 Jun, 20:45 New Zealand – Fiji Stade de la Rabine, Vannes 59-6
09 Jun, 18:45 Ireland – Fiji Stade de la Rabine, Vannes 46-3
09 Jun, 20:45 New Zealand – Australia Stade de la Rabine, Vannes 14-10
13 Jun, 18:45 New Zealand – Ireland Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
13 Jun, 20:45 Australia – Fiji Stade de la Rabine, Vannes