Irish U20 Team for JRWC Opener

15 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock/Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 - Andrew Boyle (UCD/Leinster)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9 - Kieran Marmion (UWIC/Exile)
1 - James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) (capt)
3 - Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster)
5 - Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster)
6 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7 - Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University/Ulster)
8 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht)

Replacements:

16 - David Doyle (UCD/Leinster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena/Ulster)
18 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht)
19 - Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster)
20 - Peter du Toit (UCD/Leinster)
21 - James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster)
22 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Looking forward to seeing this Gallagher lad in the backrow. Cheers MBTGOG , have been eagerly awaiting this and thank God Marshall isnt at 15

So that'll be why they were trying Marshall at fullback. If Hanrahan comes off the bench he'll move there.

The 10/12 axis... get used to seeing it!

Not many Munster lads?

This is the worst crop of Munster U20s in many, many years. I'm sure there will be a few more next year or the year after.

Notch wrote:This is the worst crop of Munster U20s in many, many years. I'm sure there will be a few more next year or the year after.

It is alright. I'm happy enough that we have a good batch of lads aged about 23 or so to see us through it.

Yeah. It's the same in Ulster and Connacht. We have good years and bad years. Leinster just churn out players from their school system with scary efficiency.

That's a disturbingly scary low number of Munster players. I hope that means the the rest of the team are keeping good players out rather than there not being many Munster lads with the required standard.

Mostly Ulster/Leinster. Ahhhh it's like the 80s all over again

Fair play Macken, won his spot back having been out injured for a while.

That backline is pretty exciting looking!

I would prefer to see Gilroy on the wing though. Good to see Marshall back fit.

Munsty - Marmion? Do you know much of him?

He's from Cardiff I think. Signed for the Connacht academy as of next year.

Just posted a ran earlier on. The pack is going to be a major worry. Annet looks a class act but I worry about the rest, especially as the best prop Martin Moore has had to pull out of the tournament.

The backrow looks decent and I'm really looking forward to seeing Gallagher at this level.

Rava, Notch has given you all the information and more. I was unaware he had signed to the Connacht Academy. We'll have to wait and see if it was some shrewd business on their part.

I'm really excited to see this backline going. I'm guessing Gilroy is at full back for two reasons. One, Conway has just come back from injury and Ruddock wants to keep him away from a prime position. Two, Ruddock expects there to be a lot of kicks coming towards the backs and Gilroy's size over Conway gave him that role.

I think Macken suffered last year playing outside Spence who isn't the most creative player. With the enormously talented Marshal though, it could be a very fruitful partnership.

Lethal backline. Don't think it matters where Gilroy plays, at this level I think he can play comfortably along the back 3. If the forwards can give the backline a decent platform to work off I reckon we can pull off a result. The English are a decent side though. Is this game on tv?

I'd guess that Gilroy and Conway will roam quite a bit and swap around positions. Hopefully Gilroy's brief is to run the ball right back at them.

Willy,

It's on SKY Sports but if you don't have that, the iRB website shall be streaming it live and on-demand for the next year.

MBTGOG, any chance you could give a run down on the changes between this side and the one that lost to England in Athlone? I remember you saying at the time that there were quite a few first choicers missing, just wondering who they were, and how much better they should be?

Montague, this is the side from Athlone-

Michael Sherlock- Gilroy comes in having scored 8 tries in his debut season in just 12 games I believe. Big improvement.
Tiernan O'Halloran- O'Halloran is one of the brightest talents in Connacht, Conway, one of the brightest in Ireland. Improvement.
Alex Kelly- Opinions split on this. I'd say even.
JJ Hanrahan- Marshal is the complete centre and is a massive improvement, even though Hanrahan is a good player.
Andrew Boyle- The one constant in the backline.
Cathal Marsh- Replaced by the more complete player. Improvement.
Blane McIlroy- Haven't seen Marmion, so can't comment.
James Tracy- Constant
David Doyle- Doyle is a good player, but Annett is captain. Improvement.
Martin Moore- Big blow as Moore is our best prop.
Michael Kearney- Constant
Daniel Qualter- Qualter is probably the better player, but it seems they've gone with the height of Henderson. The same.
Shane Buckley- Buckley has a bright future, but the older Murphy is a better option now. Improvement.
Aaron Conneely- I think Gallagher is a big improvement and will show his ability finally.
Jordi Murphy- McKeon would have been playing in that game but for injury. Big improvement due to being a natural 8.

Thanks. Sounds like it will be a whole different proposition to last time. Great, looking forward to it, every game is a must win for both sides.

In that game in Athlone, there were absences due to the Magners League. A number of players were playing for their provinces.

Still think the English pack could hurt us but should be a closer game.

Like I've said, the English tight five is our main worry. If we can gain some sense of parity in that match, I'd back the rest of the side to win the game.

Notch wrote:In that game in Athlone, there were absences due to the Magners League. A number of players were playing for their provinces.

Still think the English pack could hurt us but should be a closer game.

I agree with you there Notch about the English pack hurting us. Hanrahan & Buckley were the only two who looked able to cope with the physicality of the England team. I'm surprised that Jordi Murphy is starting ahead of Buckley as he was very quiet in the Athlone match and Buckley had a decent game.

Yeah but Murphy has the reputation Sin.

MBTGOG wrote:Yeah but Murphy has the reputation Sin.

I suppose Murphy has a bit more experience than Buckley and this will be his last crack at the U20 world cup as he is gone 20 now. Buckley will have a few more goes at it.

Well one more go but yes I know what you mean. Maybe Murphy adds more than just his playing ability though. Isn't he supposed to be a very good leader plus he is the only one along with Annett who has played in this comp before.

I don't think McIlroy is even in the squad this time. Not one for tittle tattle but there are a few rumours circulating up here about his absence. This is definetly a quality side though, with quite a few expecting Ireland caps inside the next decade.

The French team to play fiji;last time they played they kept the ball with the forwards and won 46-6(I think) even the players said it wasn't pretty A few Top14 names, Barraque,O'Connor (although only ProD2 this season),Doussain,Lesgourgues,Taofifenua(the dynasty),Bézy, Plisson, Bérard


Buttin (Clermont) ; Palis (Albi), Barraque (Biarritz), Vinsensang (Bayonne), O'Connor (Grenoble); Doussain (cap.) (Toulouse), Lesgourgues (Biarritz); Come (Racing-Métro), Galan (Toulouse), Julien (Agen) ; Gayraud (Perpignan), Demotte (Clermont) ; Desmaison (Bayonne), Bourgeois (Pau), Taofifenua (Perpignan).

Reps : Colliat (Castres), Delmas (Colomiers), Vahaamahina (Brive), Bézy (Toulouse), Plisson (Stade Français), Bérard (Montpellier)

that is a fine looking backline there, cant wait to watch the game tomorrow!! Pack aint too shabby either i supposr, the game is going to be won up front though as in all games i guess

Sin é wrote:
I agree with you there Notch about the English pack hurting us. Hanrahan & Buckley were the only two who looked able to cope with the physicality of the England team.

Is this a better team than the U20 team of 2007, many of whom who have climbed fairly high. Keith Earls, Felix Jones, Ian Keatley, Tommy O'Donoghue, Jamie Hagan, Andrew Browne have done well for themselves at Magners Level. Will this crop be better.

In the backs Stag, I'd say so. Maybe not the forwards, but these backs are pretty special.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:
I agree with you there Notch about the English pack hurting us. Hanrahan & Buckley were the only two who looked able to cope with the physicality of the England team.

You and me both Notch

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:
I agree with you there Notch about the English pack hurting us. Hanrahan & Buckley were the only two who looked able to cope with the physicality of the England team.

Why the rolling eyes? Did you see that match?

If you didn't, in a game with a depleted Irish team with the pack on the back foot, the only two Irish players who looked up for it were Buckley & Hanrahan.

Jordi Murphy captained that team and looked anonymous.

For the record, I don't have an issue with Marshall starting ahead of Hanrahan, who is still very young and will get his chance at either outhalf or centre (probably in 4 days time when Ireland play South Africa).

Sin é wrote:
Why the rolling eyes? Did you see that match?

If you didn't, in a game with a depleted Irish team with the pack on the back foot, the only two Irish players who looked up for it were Buckley & Hanrahan.

I thought Hanrahan, Murphy and O'Hallornan had good games in that match.

Interesting they prefer Gilroy to Conway at fullback? I've only seen Gilroy play wing and only seen Conway at 15.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Why the rolling eyes? Did you see that match?

If you didn't, in a game with a depleted Irish team with the pack on the back foot, the only two Irish players who looked up for it were Buckley & Hanrahan.

I thought Hanrahan, Murphy and O'Hallornan had good games in that match.

And everyone one of them dropped! Amazing tactic considering its more or less the same English team to drop all the best performers!

Would you care to explain why the rolling eyes?

SinE, I think its because very coincidently the only 2 players you give credit to are the only 2 Munster players in the squad.

red_stag wrote:SinE, I think its because very coincidently the only 2 players you give credit to are the only 2 Munster players in the squad.

Did I give the credit they didn't deserve (just to be clear on it, I thought Hanrahan was outstanding, Buckley did OK and scored a try).

Am I not allowed give credit to them just because they are from Munster?

I haven't rolled my eyes for the Ulster supporters giving lavish praise to Annett, Marshall & Gilroy.

Sin é wrote:

red_stag wrote:SinE, I think its because very coincidently the only 2 players you give credit to are the only 2 Munster players in the squad.

Did I give the credit they didn't deserve (just to be clear on it, I thought Hanrahan was outstanding, Buckley did OK and scored a try).

Am I not allowed give credit to them just because they are from Munster?

I haven't rolled my eyes for the Ulster supporters giving lavish praise to Annett, Marshall & Gilroy.

I didn't say anything as I didn't see the match. However thats the reason for rolling eyes. The only people who got credit were surprisingly Munster players

red_stag wrote:SinE, I think its because very coincidently the only 2 players you give credit to are the only 2 Munster players in the squad.

red_stag wrote:

Sin é wrote:

red_stag wrote:SinE, I think its because very coincidently the only 2 players you give credit to are the only 2 Munster players in the squad.

Did I give the credit they didn't deserve (just to be clear on it, I thought Hanrahan was outstanding, Buckley did OK and scored a try).

Am I not allowed give credit to them just because they are from Munster?

I haven't rolled my eyes for the Ulster supporters giving lavish praise to Annett, Marshall & Gilroy.

I didn't say anything as I didn't see the match. However thats the reason for rolling eyes. The only people who got credit were surprisingly Munster players

And most of the others who played that night have been dropped completely from the 22 should tell you something

Better players are now available perhaps

geoff998rugby wrote:Better players are now available perhaps

eh , it explains why I didn't pick out any of them as deserving credit and that there was no need for the from the paranoid Ulster fans* who takes praise of anyone else as an insult to them

Edit: *who probably didn't even watch the match as they were more than likely glued to the telly watching Marshall, Jackson & Co. win away against the Scarlets.

Chill man chill.

Look we all big up our own players to some extent - to be expected from a loyal supporter.

I just sense that sometimes you latch on to one game where Munster players do well and use that as a reason for bigging them up at other players expense - you have done this for Earls and Nagle this season as well.

To take a particular example Nagle outplayed Muller at Ravenhill this year which you were not slow in repeatly stating whilst neglecting the rather obvious point that Muller was outstanding for nearly all the season whereas for Nagle that was the highlight of the season.

No biggy as team/player loyaliy is to be expected from us all but this is just what I see here and in the other place.

Thanks for confirming my point about Ulster's paranoia.

In the real world, young players will be applauded for doing well when up against experienced internationals.

Most people would see it as a positive for the young player, even if its only a highlight, rather than a negative of the older, more experienced player. Its the way you measure progress.

As for Earls - he has had a great end to the season and is one of the top wingers in Europe at the moment (what a finish for his try against Leinster in the Magners final). Is it ok to say that as I'm obviously knocking a few wingers plying their their trade in Europe by bigging him up like that.

Sin é

I'd guess that Hanrahan would get his chance against Scotland.

Also, did you ever think Buckley and Hanrahan stood out to you because maybe you were paying more attention to them as they will potentially play for Munster in the future.

I didn't mean anything personal by it. Just sort of 'Here we go again!

I watched both games. The magic of the RTE Player! It's a great wee resource.

I'm a fan of Hanrahan, I think he's an excellent player. He's quite unlucky to be in the same age group as Marshall. Most years he'd be a shoe-in. Buckley is alright; it's harder to gauge the potential of forwards at that age than backs.

MBTGOG wrote:Sin é

I'd guess that Hanrahan would get his chance against Scotland.

Also, did you ever think Buckley and Hanrahan stood out to you because maybe you were paying more attention to them as they will potentially play for Munster in the future.

Actually no, Ireland were just hammered. I know one of the players on that team (Cathal Marsh) and I was disappointed by him. I don't know Hanrahan or Buckley.

Since you are one of the few people who seem to have seen the game, who would you have rated better than those two?

Notch wrote:I didn't mean anything personal by it. Just sort of 'Here we go again!

I watched both games. The magic of the RTE Player! It's a great wee resource.

I'm a fan of Hanrahan, I think he's an excellent player. He's quite unlucky to be in the same age group as Marshall. Most years he'd be a shoe-in. Buckley is alright; it's harder to gauge the potential of forwards at that age than backs.

Fair enough. Its a bit annoying though to get your opinon dismissed automatically because of the team you support (particularly when you actually seem to agree with my opinon on their quality).

I didn't dismiss your opinion. it was meant to be tongue in cheek

An apology is order; sorry Sin E.

Try already to England. Looked like Gilroy and the left wing were marking the same man

Notch wrote:I didn't dismiss your opinion. it was meant to be tongue in cheek

An apology is order; sorry Sin E.

Ok