In-form Ireland in a strong position

U-20 SIX NATIONS:ALLEN CLARKE'S Ireland team stand on the cusp of claiming the Under-20 Six Nations Championship, albeit that they must not alone win tonight in Athlone but also satisfy one or two mathematical permutations to boot.

Ireland and England go into the final round of matches with three wins from four. Ireland, who beat England, are 17 points better off in terms of the points differential and England must travel to France for their final game on Sunday. If the Irish win and do so with a 10-15 point margin, it should see them crowned champions.

The French have won two and drawn one of their four matches, including inflicting Ireland’s only defeat to date. But the Scots were the only side to beat Ireland last season, a 35-20 win in Perth.

The Ireland coach has made two alterations to the team that beat Wales last week, with Simon Zebo returning to the left wing in place of the injured Darren Hudson and Eoin Griffin preferred to Brendan Macken at outside centre.

Scotland travel to Dubarry Park still smarting from a poor performance against England in their last outing. Coach Eamon John said: “Ireland are a good side and favourites for the championship. Credit to them, we respect them but we certainly don’t fear them.”

Even allowing for an improvement in Scotland’s patterns, their hosts enter this game in a very positive frame of mind. The pack has underpinned recent wins, especially a high-quality backrow, while Stewart Maguire has impressed at tighthead prop.

John Cooney has been very impressive at scrumhalf, while centre Nevin Spence and the gifted Andrew Conway at fullback are potential line-breakers.

If Ireland play to their full potential, it appears the championship is theirs for the taking.

IRELAND:A Conway (Blackrock); T O'Halloran (Galwegians), E Griffin (Corinthians), N Spence (Ballynahinch, S Zebo (Cork Cons); J McKinney (QUB), J Cooney (UCD); J O'Connell (Lansdowne), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins), S Maguire (Old Belvedere); D O'Callaghan (UCC), B Marshall (UCD); R Ruddock (UCD), D Ryan (Lansdowne), P Butler (Shannon). Rep: R Byrne (UCD), B Cagney (UCC), B Hayes (Cork Con), R O'Sullivan (Bective Rangers), M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins), G Quinn McDonogh (Shannon), B Macken (Blackrock).

SCOTLAND:T Brown; O Grove, J Johnstone, A Dunbar, D Fife; A Blair, A Black; N Little, A Walker, C Phillips; M Reid, R Harley; M Maltman, D Denton, S McInally. Replacements: L Gibson, G Hunter, A Hall, C Stidston-Nott, K Hamilton, M Scott, D Weir.