And while we\u2019re at it a little rugby housekeeping. Here is some background to the Ireland Men\u2019s U20s team for Friday\u2019s challenge match against South Africa at Virgin Media Park (7.30).<\/p>\n
Head Coach Andrew Browne<\/b> assembled an extended squad of players for a training camp in Cork this week. Leinster prop Sami Bishti<\/b> will captain the side, with a number of players including Charlie Molony<\/b>, Tom Wood<\/b> and Donnacha McGuire<\/b> returning for Ireland this season having been capped at U20s level last season.Tickets are available to purchase via Ticketmaster.ie and the game will be streamed live on IrishRugby+ thanks to PwC, the official sponsor of the Ireland U20s.<\/p>\n
Ireland Men\u2019s U20s<\/b><\/p>\n
15. Noah Byrne (DUFC\/Leinster); 14. Charlie Molony (UCD\/Leinster), 13. Sean Walsh (Corinthians RFC\/Connacht), 12. James O\u2019Leary (UCC\/Munster)11. Daniel Ryan (Corinthians RFC\/Connacht); 10. Tom Wood (Garryowen\/Munster), 9. Christopher Barrett (UCC\/Munster); 1. Max Doyle (UCD\/Leinster), 2. Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC\/Leinster), 3. Sami Bishti (UCD\/Leinster)(captain); 4. Donnacha McGuire (UCD\/Leinster), 5. Dylan McNeice (UCD\/Leinster), 6. Joe Finn (Garryowen\/Munster)7. Arthur Ashmore (Terenure College RFC\/Leinster), 8. Diarmaid O\u2019Connell (Corinthians RFC\/Connacht)<\/p>\n
Replacements:16. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC\/Leinster),17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC\/Munster),18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC\/Ulster),19. Sean Walsh (MU Barnhall RFC\/Leinster), 20. Michael O\u2019Sullivan (UCC\/Munster), 21. Fergus Callington (Durham University\/IQ Rugby), 22. Conor O\u2019Shaughnessy (Galwegians RFC\/Connacht), 23. Johnny O\u2019Sullivan (DUFC\/Leinster).<\/p>\n
Stuart McCloskey<\/b> had a super game on a disappointing day in Chicago before limping off, but he\u2019s recovered from the adductor strain and trained all week. According to speculation Robbie Henshaw<\/b> will shift to 13 from 12 rather than continuing with last week\u2019s debutant Tom Farrell.<\/b> That is in no way a reflection of Farrell or his contribution. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack Crowley<\/b> played very well against Japan, at a time when the team was struggling to find a playing rhythm, so the decision to start Sam Prendergast<\/b> is not based on a negative. Farrell<\/b> is looking to give both his outhalves \u2013 Prendergast<\/b> played well on his introduction the last day \u2013 more big game Test experience. <\/p>\n
That would mean a backrow of two tour Lions Test number eight Jack Conan<\/b> starting in the middle of the backrow with one of the team\u2019s in-form players, Ryan Baird <\/b>wearing the six jersey. Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan<\/b> are expected to return to the frontrow with Jamison Gibson-Park<\/b> back at nine.<\/p>\n
Right, found it. August 2023:<\/b> Doris wore the number seven jersey in a World Cup warm-up match against Italy, scoring two tries in the 33-17 win.<\/p>\n
February 2024:<\/b> He wore the number seven jersey again for the Six Nations clash against Italy. <\/p>\n
What are the other discussion points? Irish captain Caelan Doris potentially <\/b>wearing the number seven jersey would be a pretty big one. I\u2019m old so I can\u2019t remember whether I wrote or spoke on the Irish Times podcast, The Counter Ruck<\/b>, of Doris having started at openside flanker in a couple of matches against Italy. <\/p>\n
The Bok coach named a fresh front row of Venter, Grobbelaar, and Zachary Porthen (who made his Test debut against Japan in London), while Munster\u2019s Jean Kleyn <\/b>will feature in his first match since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final when he pairs up with Franco Mostert in the engine room.<\/p>\n
Kolisi retains the No 6 jersey in a loose trio with Ben-Jason Dixon, in what marks his first Test this season, and Marco van Staden, who will start at No 8.<\/p>\n
The Bok backline also has a new feel to it, with Morne van den Berg and Handre Pollard dictating play at halfback, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe have been selected at wing. Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie form a physical centre pairing, and Willemse serving as the last line of defence at fullback.<\/p>\n
On the bench, Erasmus \u2013 who guided the team in his 50th\u00a0Test as head coach last week \u2013 has included props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, locks Snyman and Ruan Nortje, loose forward Kwagga Smith and hybrid Andre Esterhuizen, while the two specialist backline players are Grant Williams (scrumhalf) and Manie Libbok (flyhalf). Van Staden will serve as the back-up hooker.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe said from the outset of the tour that we want to give as many players as possible a chance to play, and we believe this team is best suited to the threats Italy will pose,\u201d said Erasmus.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our key pillars is to build squad depth, and it\u2019s great to have players like Jean, Handre, Edwill, and Ben-Jason back, who have all been in the mix in the last few seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cHandre and Jean have played in Rugby World Cups, while Ben-Jason and Edwill have both performed for us at the highest level, and we are excited to see what they\u2019ll bring this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the decision not to include a specialist back-up hooker among the replacements, Erasmus said: \u201cMarco played hooker for us at the World Cup, and he has been training in the position since, so it doesn\u2019t make a difference whether he starts at loose forward and moves to hooker, or whether we named him solely as the back-up hooker on the bench. He\u2019s a versatile player, and we are confident that he\u2019ll be able to do the job required at No 8 and at hooker if necessary this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erasmus expected Italy to come out firing and said their victory against Australia last week proved what a force they can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may have won both our matches against them in the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but they tested us well in both matches, and put up a brave fight,\u201d said Erasmus.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir victory against Australia will also boost their confidence immensely, so we have a lot of respect for them, and we\u2019ll have to give everything to get the result we want on the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve made huge strides in the last few years, and last week\u2019s result shows what they are capable of when they are at their best, so we are not taking them lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have also beaten us in Italy before, they are a passionate and well-coached team, and they\u2019ll have an ardent crowd behind them in Torino, so we know what we are in for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Springbok team to face Italy in Turin:<\/b><\/p>\n
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) \u2013 46 caps, 66 pts (6t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)<\/p>\n
14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) \u2013 4 caps, 25 pts (5t)<\/p>\n
13 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 20 caps, 40 pts (8t)<\/p>\n
12 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) \u2013 6 caps, 0 pts<\/p>\n
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 29 caps, 115 pts (23t)<\/p>\n
10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 84 caps, 815 pts (8t, 122 c, 172 p, 5dg)<\/p>\n
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) \u2013 4 caps, 15 pts (3t)<\/p>\n
8 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 31 caps, 15 pts (3t)<\/p>\n
7 Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) \u2013 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)<\/p>\n
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) \u2013 100 caps, 70 pts (14t)<\/p>\n
5 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) \u2013 82 caps, 20 pts (4t)<\/p>\n
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) \u2013 7 caps, 0 pts<\/p>\n
3 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) \u2013 1 cap, 0 pts<\/p>\n
2 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 5 caps, 0 pts<\/p>\n
1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) \u2013 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)<\/p>\n
Replacements:<\/b><\/p>\n
16 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 13 caps, 5 pts (1t)<\/p>\n
17 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 26 caps, 5 pts (1t)<\/p>\n
18 RG Snyman (Leinster) \u2013 48 caps, 15 pts (3t)<\/p>\n
19 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) \u2013 15 caps, 0 pts<\/p>\n
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) \u2013 26 caps, 20 pts (4t)<\/p>\n
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) \u2013 60 caps, 55 pts (11t)<\/p>\n
22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) \u2013 26 caps, 30 pts (6t)<\/p>\n
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) \u2013 26 caps, 141 pts (2t, 46c, 13p)<\/p>\n
On a brief tangential note given that Ireland host South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week, this will be of interest to Ireland supporters. <\/p>\n
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus<\/b> on Thursday named a new-look starting team for the Test against Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday afternoon, which will again be led by inspirational captain Siya Kolisi, with the Bok coach making 11 changes to his run-on side and one on the replacements bench from last week\u2019s 32-17 victory against France.<\/p>\n
The players who retained their places in the starting team are Boan Venter (prop), Kolisi (flanker), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing) and Damian Willemse (fullback),<\/b> while Erasmus opted for the same bench except for Kwagga Smith<\/b> (loose forward), who returns to the squad in place of Johan Grobbelaar<\/b>, who was promoted to the starting lineup.<\/p>\n
Leinster\u2019s RG Snyman<\/b> (replacement lock) is in line to earn his 49th Test cap, leaving him only one match short of joining the select group of players who have racked up a half-century of Test caps.<\/p>\n
The Ulster player\u2019s last appearances in an Irish 15 jersey were around the time of the pandemic (2020), but he\u2019s played there on plenty of occasions for Ulster. Gerry<\/b> expects Garry Ringrose<\/b> (hamstring) and Josh van der Flier<\/b> (hamstring) to miss out through injury. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the team GT <\/b>expects Andy Farrell<\/b> to name. <\/p>\n
IRELAND (possible, v Australia):<\/b> M Hansen; T O\u2019Brien, R Henshaw, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J Ryan, T Beirne; R Baird, C Doris (capt), J Conan. Replacements:<\/b> R Kelleher\/G McCarthy, P McCarthy, T Clarkson, C Prendergast, N Timoney, C Casey, J Crowley, B Aki.<\/p>\n
Hello and welcome to the Irish Times rugby blog. You\u2019re in luck, John O\u2019Sullivan<\/b> here. I\u2019ve been given some time off from other duties to try and keep you entertained. Failing that, we\u2019ll just go for informed.<\/p>\n
Ireland and Australia will name their teams simultaneously at 2.0pm, both on their social media channels. Wallaby coach Joe Schmidt will hold a press conference at 2.30pm while his Ireland counterpart Andy Farrell will do so at a secret location (4.0). Clue: Johnny Sexton<\/b> might want to check if there are any pictures there of his time with the club as a \u2018mini.\u2019 <\/p>\n
So, what can we expect? Well according to Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley,<\/b> to address him by his full title, Mack Hansen<\/b> is going to start at fullback. The under\/over in excitement levels amongst Irish rugby supporters if that proves to be the case, is likely to be swathed in positivity.<\/p>\n
Hugo Keenan\u2019s<\/b> absence and Jamie Osborne\u2019s<\/b> injury in the Japan match necessitated a change. Jimmy O\u2019Brien <\/b>played the two summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal in the 15 jersey and came on in the Japan game. Jacob Stockdale<\/b> was also listed for honourable mention in the conversation about fullback. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"And while we\u2019re at it a little rugby housekeeping. Here is some background to the Ireland Men\u2019s U20s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":178533,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[70904,75579,18,19,17,34132,40691,64661,2525,132,4388],"class_list":{"0":"post-178532","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-andy-farrell","9":"tag-autumn-nations-series","10":"tag-eire","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland","13":"tag-ireland-rugby","14":"tag-irfu","15":"tag-joe-schmidt","16":"tag-rugby","17":"tag-sports","18":"tag-wallabies"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115542656627651607","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178532\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}