Ireland Under-20 coach Allen Clarke has named a strong starting XV for Saturday’s opening Junior World Championship clash against France in Rosario, Argentina.
Leinster flanker Rhys Ruddock captains the side, one of six players from the province selected. Dominic Ryan, who like Ruddock has played on the full Leinster side, will play at openside flanker with Munster number eight Patrick Butler making up a strong backrow.
It is the same starting XV that sealed the Six Nations Championship with a 44-15 win over Scotland.
IRELAND U20 (v France, Junior World Championship, Estadio El Coloso del Parque, Saturday, 6.0pm Irish time):Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster); Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht), Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht), Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster); James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster), John Cooney (UCD/Leinster); Jack O'Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster), David O'Callaghan (UCC/Munster), Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)
Replacements: David Doyle (UCD/Leinster), Bryan Cagney (UCC/Munster), Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster), Brian O'Hara (UL Bohemians/Munster), Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Noel Reid (UCD/Leinster), Darren Hudson (St. Mary's College/Leinster).