World U20s 2015: Ireland make four changes for Baby Blacks
Head coach Nigel Carolan believes Ireland have identified some areas in which they can test New Zealand in the Pool C decider
Nigel Carolan has made four changes for Ireland’s test against New Zealand at the World Rugby U20 Championship on Wednesday evening.
With both countries having won their opening two Pool C matches, a place in the semi-finals next week is on the line.
New Zealand are a good team, so we will need to be brilliant for the full 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance.
Nigel Carolan
Two of the changes from the 24-20 win over Scotland last weekend see Queen’s University winger Jack Owens make his first start in the tournament on the right wing with his team-mate Jacob Stockdale returning to the left wing.
Up front, hooker Zack McCall returns to the front row in place of Stuart McNulty, while Buccaneers flanker Rory Moloney returns in the back row.
“This is a big game for both sides, the winner of this will have a guaranteed place in the semi-finals,” Carolan said.
“New Zealand are a good team, so we will need to be brilliant for the full 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance.
“However, in preparation for a tough battle, we have recovered well from our last outing and have identified some key areas which we hope we can take advantage of.”
UPDATE: Carolan was forced into a late when hooker McCall was withdrawn with a shoulder injury and replaced by McNulty with Ballymena’s Adarm McBurney promoted to the bench.
Adam McBurney, who was called into the squad at the weekend to replace injured Jack Dwan, will take his place on the bench.
New Zealand U20: TBC
Replacements:
Ireland U20: Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster); Jack Owens (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster); Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster), Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster, captain); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Sean McNulty (UCD/Leinster), Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster), David O’Connor (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Alex Thompson (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster), Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht), Lorcan Dow (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster).
Replacements: Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Liam O’Connor (Cork Constitution/Munster), Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht), Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht), Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers/Connacht); Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Tomás Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster).
