Irish U20 RWC team v S Africa news

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Source and Link - http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/23299.php

The Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PwC) to play South Africa has been named by Coach Mike Ruddock. Ruddock has made five personnel changes to the starting XV that lost out to England in their opening game of the IRB Junior World Championship.

Tiernan O’Halloran comes in at full back with Craig Gilroy moving to the wing. JJ Hanrahan will partner Brendan Macken in the centre.
James McKinney has been promoted to the starting side in the out half position with Paddy Jackson named in the replacements.

Daniel Qualter has been named alongside Michael Kearney in the second row with Aaron Connelly making his tournament debut in the back row.

Iain Henderson, Dominic Gallagher, and Luke Marshall have been named in the replacements.

Speaking about his selection, Ruddock said "We have looked closely at South Africa and they present another massive challenge. Typically they are a big and very physical side. Combine that with a four day turnaround and it is important that we introduce some freshness into our team.

As such I have made five changes to the team that played England. The players coming in are all experienced age grade internationals and they will be keen to perform on the big stage."


Ireland Under-20 Team to play South Africa Under-20:(IRB Junior World Championship, Treviso, Tuesday, 13th June, kick-off 20.10hrs local time/ 19.10hrs Irish time)

15 - Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians - Connacht)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock - Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock - Leinster)
12 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians- Munster)
11 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon - Ulster)
10 - James McKinney (Queens - Ulster)
9 - Kieran Marmion (UWIC - Exile)
1 - James Tracy (UCD - Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
3 - Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf - Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf - Leinster)
5 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)
6 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
7 - Aaron Connelly (Galway Corinthians - Connacht)
8 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians - Connacht)

Replacements -
16 - David Doyle (UCD - Leinster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena - Ulster)
18 - Iain Henderson (Queens - Ulster)
19 - Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University - Ulster)
20 - Peter Du Toit (UCD - Leinster)
21 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster)
22 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena - Ulster)

Ireland Under-20 Pool Games (All Times are Local)
14 Jun 20:10 Ireland v South Africa Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
18 Jun 20:10 Ireland v Scotland Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

Update on Both teams:

Ireland
South Africa
James Tracy 1 Stephan Kotze
Niall Annett (C) 2 Michael Van Vuuren
Tadhg Furlong 3 John Roy Jenkinson
Michael Kearney 4 Ruan Venter
Daniel Qualter 5 Eben Etzebeth
Jordi Murphy 6 Nizaam Carr
Aaron Conneely 7 Cornell Du Preez
Eoin McKeon 8 Arno Botha (C)
Kieran Marmion 9 Lohan Jacobs
James McKinney 10 Johan Goosen
Craig Gilroy 11 Wandile Mjekevu
JJ Hanrahan 12 Francois Venter
Brendan Macken 13 Bradley Moolman
Andrew Conway 14 Courtnall Skosan
Tiernan O’Halloran 15 Ulrich Beyers

David Doyle 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi
Conor Carey 17 Nic Schonert
Iain Henderson 18 Jean Cook
Dominic Gallagher 19 Siya Kolisi
Peter Du Toit 20 Pieter Rademan
Paddy Jackson 21 Johnny Welthagen
Luke Marshall 22 Paul Jordaan

I'd not be too worried if i was Irish, i've been far more impressed by them than by England who are a better team at this age grade simply because of physical superiority. The Irish showed a better standard of basic skills such as handling, vision and awareness of space. These are skills which can't be taught to a 19 or 20 year old, its simply too late. Assuming the Irish lads continue to bulk up they will be the better players at 25-28 because the English physical advantage would have disappeared or at least narrowed sufficiently.

biltongbek wrote:

Then 95% of our rugby playing population do not grow up on farms. We do have a Mcdonalds around every corner.

You don't need 95% to grow up on the farm (and I didn't claim that anyway). Just a few of the front row/forwards. The burgers that Ollie le Roux promoted weren't McDonald's were they?

Of the Irish lads who grew up on farms, I think its Rory Best, John Hayes, Denis Leamy & Sean O'Brien as far as I know.

Didn't Furlong (the prop that played last night) grew up on a farm in Wexford - or am I mixing him up with someone else?

Thank Biltong for clearing up some of the stereotypes being thrown around.

Good post debators and a lot of valid points.

I'm not totally convinced about this 80 minute thing though. Whereas we are clearly much fitter than we were there is a pattern of Irish sides not being able to maintain intensity for 80 min. We start strong and finish strong but in key parts of the game we tend to switch off. It was evident against the baby boks and the senior team are often guilty of it. We get away with against the weakers side but it tends to come back to haunt us against the best sides.

Sin give it up farming is not the secret behind these guys physicality!!!

roddersm wrote:

Sin give it up farming is not the secret behind these guys physicality!!!

Would you point out where I claimed that?

I believe I said a combination of genetics & lifestyle (physical activity from an early age - thats what happens on farms), climate, quality of food etc.

Thanks rodders,

re the fitness thing, I accept there have been mental lapses (which can very often be related to fatigue etc) but I think you have to be fair and say that no team, even the All Blacks, can dominate a game for 80+ mins. No matter the opposition they are going to get a 10, 15 or 20 min period where they are on top. That might appear to be a lack of fitness, but sometime syour opponant is allowed to better you.

I agree that more can be done, but I genuinely feel that our fitness and stamina levels are as good if not better than most if not all other sides.

Fair point debaters. I agree we are one of the fittest teams. I still think in recent times our very strong finishes have masked the fact that we've gone to sleep for key periods of the games though. It's probably psyhcological as much as physical but certainly its cost us a few times against the top sides.

Defo, our inability to learn from how the ref was (sometimes a little unfairly) penalising us at the break down against France cost us that game for sure.

Unfortunately, shocking decision aside, we were just poor against Wales.

Im not worried though, the one thing I trust Deccie to get right above all else, is his players mindset, especially when he'll have them in an extended camp and through the group matches etc.

Fingers crossed!!!