A look at the Irish under-20s

Shane Layden

(Buccaneers/Connacht)

Stood out on Roscrea team which reached last season’s Leinster final and in interpros, scoring hat-trick against Munster. A former minor for Roscommon, hence strong under the high ball. A footballer, has an eye for a gap, an old-school fullback.

Conor Finn

(Buccaneers/Connacht)

From Aughrim, and son of former Connacht back-rower, Paudge, who also played GAA, unusually for a winger he’s strong in the air, physically, defensively and with ball put in behind him.

Chris Farrell

(Dungannon/Ulster)

The Dungannon lad had featured at inside centre in the interpros, and is a big, strong, 6ft 4in midfield carrier. Has something of a young Jamie Roberts look to him.

JJ Hanrahan

(UL Bohemians/Munster)

Hopes are high for the only regular Munster starter last season and one of only two so far this season. Ex-Rockwell, he’s a very elusive and inventive player, and a good place-kicker

Sam Coghlan Murray

(UCD/Leinster)

A Newbridge college product, there are shades of Shane Williams in this diminutive but strong winger, who can bounce and step tacklers; has good feet but has real pace. Has been injury prone.

Paddy Jackson

(Dungannon/Ulster)

Has had place-kicking problems in two games so far but though slight is highly regarded. A playmaking outhalf blessed with good hands.

Luke McGrath

(UCD/Leinster)

A nephew of former Irish flanker Derek, last season’s St Michael’s scrum-half is a small but well-built player with a good break. A good organiser.

Kyle McCall

(Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Fine player with a huge work rate. The squad’s Man of the Match against France, after making 15 tackles, along with his clearing out and carries.

Niall Scannell

(Dolphin/Munster)

The team’s pack leader and vice-captain, Scannell has already broken into Dolphin’s AIL team and is getting back to his best after shoulder reconstruction.

Peter Reilly

(Lansdowne/Leinster)

Had to dig in against a typically formidable French scrum last week, he’s had to convert to tight-head (after much of his formative years at hooker) in the absence of the injured Tadhg Furlong.

Iain Henderson

(Queen’s University/Ulster)

Outstanding in last season’s Under-20 World Cup and now one of the team’s leaders, the 6ft 6in lock has bulked up this season and is a strong, physical player who carries effectively as well as being a primary ball-winner. A big prospect.

Daniel Qualter

(Buccaneers/Connacht)

Another ex-Roscommon Gaelic footballer (and representative rower) and another with the experience of last season’s World Cup, Qualter is a very good line-out operator and carrier with fine passing skills.

Conor Gilsenan

(UCD/Leinster)

Part of last season’s famed Congowes team, with more coming on board next season, Gilsenan is a fiercely aggressive, physical blindside who plays on the edge. The real deal.

Aaron Conneely

(Corinthians/Connacht)

A Coláiste Iognáid product, and another from last season, an all-round footballer, with good skills and a good reader of the game. Has developed physically this season and become more effective in the tackle area/breakdown.

Jack Conan

(Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Conan was a key figure in the surprise St Gerard’s wins over Blackrock and Terenure in the schools cup two seasons ago. A very strong runner with ball in hand who has progressed with Old Belvedere in the AIL.

Replacements

Foster Horan

(Lansdowne/Leinster)

Nominally a centre, the Kilkenny College product has come from outside the elite schools/academy structure via Lansdowne, playing in the AIL. A strong runner with a good step.

Tadhg Beirne

(Lansdowne/Leinster)

Plays AIL with Lansdowne, where his high tackle count and work-rate has impressed, so much so that he has forced his way in to the first team.

Kieran Marmion

(Corinthians/Connacht)

Born in Wales with strong Loughrea roots, has come through the Exiles, and has broken into the Corinthians AIL side this season. A tidy scrum-half with an excellent long pass.

Jordon Coghlan

(UCD/Leinster)

The 6ft 4in Clongowes number eight is just back from a series of injuries. A rangy runner with good skills and link play, (as well as being a top-class cricketer) Coghlan was warmly coveted by Leicester.

James Rael

(Garryowen/Munster)

A fine young hooking prospect, who has played regularly for Garryowen in the AIL this season. Like most young hookers, still learning his trade in the front row set-piece but is excellent around the park.

Des Merrey

(Clontarf/Leinster)

Like Angus McKeen and Emmet Byrne, Merrey hails from the long conveyor belt of Irish Schools props developed at King’s Hospital. A strong scrumagger and ball carrier, he has played AIL with Clontarf.

Cathal Marsh

(Dublin University/Leinster)

The ex-St Michael’s outhalf is actually being kept out of the Division 2B table-topping Trinity team by Roscrea product David Joyce. A good player with good hands and a strong kicking game.

Diarmuid Higgins

(Buccaneers/Connacht)

Emulating his brother Conor, also a tight-head who played for the Irish Under-20s two years ago, Higgins was part of a dominant Connacht scrum in the interpros until breaking his leg.

Gerry Thornley