Ireland U20 Side Named For Scotland Clash

The Ireland U20 team to play Scotland in the second round of the World Rugby U20 Championship has been named, with Head Coach Nigel Carolan making four changes to the side that overcame Argentina 18-16 in their opening fixture.

Ulster players Sam Arnold (pictured), Alex Thompson and Lorcan Dow are retained in the starting XV, with Zack McCall and Jacob Stockdale dropping to the bench. 

Ciaran Gaffney is named on the wing, having recovered from an ankle injury he picked up before the first game, to partner Stephen Fitzgerald with Billy Dardis at fullback. There is no change in the centre partnership, with Garry Ringrose and Arnold starting. Captain, Nick McCarthy starts at scrumhalf with Joey Carbery named at outhalf.

Up front, Andrew Porter and Sean McNulty make their first start of the tournament to join Oisin Heffernan in the front row. David O'Connor and Thompson make up the second row partnership. Dow and Josh Murphy are joined by Conor Oliver in the back row.

Carolan said: "We had a shaky start to the tournament but it's good to have the win under our belts. We narrowly lost to Scotland during the Six Nations this year so we are aware of the challenge ahead of us. We know we have a tough battle on our hands, but that's what we have prepared for. We are all looking forward to the game and hopefully we can perform to our potential."

The game will be shown live on TG4.

Ireland U20 (v Scotland, 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship - Pool C, Calvisano, Saturday 6th June, kick-off 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time):
15. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
14. Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Stephen Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
10. Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster, captain)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)
2. Sean McNulty (UCD/Leinster)
3. Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster)
4. David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
5. Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)
6. Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
7. Conor Oliver (St Mary's/ Leinster)
8. Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements:
16. Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

17. Liam O'Connor (Cork Constitution /Munster)*
18. Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht)
19. Jack Dwan (UCD/Leinster)
20. Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
23. Jacob Stockdale (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

*Uncapped at U20 level