McAleese banks on students

Under-19 World Cup:Ireland coach Charlie McAleese has included seven schoolboys in the team for tomorrow night's opening Under-19 World Cup game against the defending champions, Australia, at Ravenhill.

The Leinster Schools' Cup winners, St Michael's College, provide centre Conor Cleary, wing Paddy Brophy and flanker Rajan Reilly. The Munster champions, Pres Cork, provide outhalf Scott Deasy.

Given a lack of preparation time and the quality of opposition, just being competitive will prove a massive assignment for the Irish. In singling out a couple of players, one up front and the other behind the scrum, it's hard to look past the captain and number eight, Paul Ryan, and the former Belvedere College pupil and centre Eoin O'Malley.

McAleese has picked a further six schoolboys on the bench for a match Ireland need to win to retain hopes of making the semi-finals. They play Scotland next Monday and South Africa on Friday week.

IRELAND UNDER-19: A Craig (Instonians); N Morris (Blackrock College), E O'Malley (UCD), C Cleary (St Michael's College), P Brophy (St Michael's College); S Deasy (PBC Cork), K Greene (St Mary's College); P Karayiannis (RBAI/QUB), S Douglas (Ballymena), M Nelson (Ballynahinch); B Cawley (UCD), I Nagle (Glenstal Abbey), K Essex (CBC, Cork/UCC), R Reilly (St Michael's College), P Ryan (Blackrock College, capt). Replacements: M Sherry (Ard Scoil Rís/Garryowen), I Leonard (St Michael's College), P McCabe (Dublin University), D Foley (UL Bohemian), J Harris-Wright (Blackrock College), P Mallon (St Michael's College), H McAleese (Ballynahinch), J Smith (Ballymena), M Kinsella (Newtown School, Waterford), A Gaughan (Buccaneers), T Seymour (Down HS).

London Wasps have confirmed prop Tim Payne will miss England's tour to South Africa after being ruled out for the rest of the season with damaged knee ligaments. Payne was injured in Saturday's European Cup win over Leinster.

Meanwhile, Payne's England colleague Jason Robinson has said Sale's delay in offering him a new contract was a factor in his decision to retire.

"There is no doubt the club probably wanted to keep me but, if you've got something that you want, then you probably need to act a bit quicker . . . but I've no gripes," said the 32-year-old captain and winger, who will play his final club match on Friday week but is expected to figure in the World Cup before hanging up his boots.