Ireland to capitalise on home advantage

Ireland U-21 v Wales U-21: After a fine draw in France last weekend, Ireland host Six Nations defending champions Wales this afternoon in what might prove the key game of the championship.

There is a neat symmetry to the location of this game at the Sportsground as Mark McCall, assistant to Michael Bradley last season, takes charge of his first home international at the venue where Bradley has transformed Connacht.

McCall has enough of last year's squad returning to promise another strong season. Although Wales were the sparkling side of last year's competition, Ireland almost stole the grand slam finale late on and their form in France has made Wales coach Chris Davey predict another close tie.

Munster's winger Richard Lane scored tries in that Ebbw Vale game last year and also against France at the weekend while John Hearty also touched down against the French. The team is captained by David Gannon, who has benefited from the regular first-team experience he has gained with Blackrock. Jamie Heaslip is the latest in a series of young Ulster number eights to gain international attention. The teenager is regarded by Tony Smeeth, who also coached Roger Wilson, as having potential just as explosive as the Ulster senior player.

Wales will be bolstered by the return of hooker Huw Bennett from the senior squad, with Kieran Crawford moving to the bench.

Ireland can expect another big performance from Denis Fogarty and Glen Telford while outhalf Garret Steenson will need to have his kicking boots on in the ever-windy Sportsgrounds. Still, the Galway ground has been lucky for Irish teams this year and if they box clever, Ireland have enough to topple the champions.

IRELAND UNDER-21 (v Wales): A Finn (Dolphin); R Lane (UCC), J Hearty (Blackrock College), G Telford (Dungannon), T Bowe (QUB); G Steenson (QUB), T O'Leary (Cork Constitution); J Wickham (Clontarf), D Fogarty (Cork Constitution), D Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), D Gannon (Blackrock College, capt), S O'Connor (Cork Constitution), B O'Connor (Cork Constitution), O Hennessy (Dungannon), J Heaslip (DU). Replacements: C Geoghegan (UCD), S Bennett (Bath), N McComb (Dundee HSFP), D O'Brien (Old Belvedere), R Shaw (London Wasps), M Glancy (Loughborough), B O'Donnell (UL Bohemians).

WALES: M Nuthall (Pontypridd); I Evans (Llandovery), R Payne (Newport), L Thomas (Celtic Warriors), F Brillante (Cardiff); S Macleod (Cardiff Blues), R Wells (Swansea); J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Griffiths (Neath), I Evans (Pontypridd), L Charteris (The Dragons), J Merriman (Gloucester), R Pugh (Ospreys, capt), R Dale (Newport). Replacements: D Maddocks (Llanelli Scarlets), K Crawford (Ebbw Vale), N Williams (Llanelli Scarlets), J Mills (Bath), M Jones (Ospreys), R Rees (Swansea), G Evans (Llanelli).