Schools' International Ireland v England, Donnybrook (2.0, today)

RUGBY:IRELAND WILL be looking to become only the second side in the last three years to beat England at this particular age grade, the visitors' only defeat coming on a summer tour to South Africa, writes John O'Sullivan.

This match will act as a qualifier for the FIRA Under-18 Championnat d’Europe tournament next March in terms of determining ranking and pool placements for the competition.

Ireland, coached by Terry McMaster and his assistants Kenny Hooks and Paul Barr, face a very difficult assignment against an English squad, all of whom are attached to Premiership team academies.

The home side will be led by St Michael’s College scrumhalf Luke McGrath and includes in their ranks secondrow Jerry Sexton, a younger brother of Leinster outhalf Jonathan.

IRELAND SCHOOLS: J Fitzpatrick (Gonzaga College); R Scholes (Campbell College), S Glynn (PBC Cork), C Farrell (Campbell College), M Roche (Blackrock College); S Crosbie (St Gerard’s School), L McGrath (St Michael’s College (capt); E Byrne (Clongowes Wood College), A Murphy (St Michael’s College), A Boland (Blackrock College); J Sexton (St Mary’s College), S McCarthy (Rockwell College); D Leavy (St Michael’s College), J O’Neill (Castleknock College), R Murphy PBC Cork). Replacements: T Ferrari (Sligo Grammar School), C Taylor (Wallace High School), B Scott (PBC Cork), G Thornbury (Blackrock College), J Creighton (Campbell College), R Scannell PBC Cork), C McEllin (Blackrock College), S Hooks (Royal School Armagh).

ENGLAND SCHOOLS (from): D Barrow, J Clifford, L Cowan-Dickie, M Crumpton, M Hankin, D Herriott, A Hepburn, G Jones, T Jubb, N Morris, G Sandford, D Sisi, T Smallbone, J Arnott, A Day, S Hill, W Hooley, M Jennings, J Lightfoot-Brown, J Nowell, H Slade, M Tamiau, A Watson.

IRELAND (Under-19/Under-20 Development team v England, Anglesea Road, 12.0): M Sherlock (Clontarf); M Corballis (St Michael’s), P Nelson (RS Dungannon), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemian), S Layden (Cistercian, Roscrea); C Marsh (Dublin University), K Marmion (UWIC); R Jablonski (London Irish), N Scanell (Dolphin), K McCall (Ballynahinch); D O’Shea (Crosshaven), I Henderson (QUB); C Gilsenan (Clongowes, capt), A Conneelly (Corinthians), J Conran (St Gerard’s). Replacements: J Murphy (Banbridge), D Merrey (Clontarf), D Higgins (Galen Community College), S Buckley (Garryowen), C Spence (QUB), J Carty (Buccaneers), S Murphy (Gonzaga).