Rugby

Ireland U20s make 12 changes for semi-final clash with Argentina

Influential skipper James Ryan returns to the secondrow after recovering from a thigh injury

Ireland Under-20 captain returns to the secondrow for Monday’s World Rugby Under-20 Championships semi-final against Argentina in Manchester. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Sun Jun 19 2016 - 15:10

Ireland under-20 coach Nigel Carolan has made 12 changes to his starting line-up for the World Rugby Under-20 Championships semi-final against Argentina in Manchester on Monday (5.30pm).

Influential skipper James Ryan returns to the secondrow after recovering from a thigh injury, one of seven changes to the pack from the win over Georgia, with blindside flanker Greg Jones the only player remaining in the forward unit. In the backs outhalf Johnny McPhillips and left wing Hugo Keenan are the two players that remain.

Speaking ahead of the semi-final at Manchester City Academy Stadium, Carolan said: “The players have done really well to get themselves into a World Championship semi-final.

“There’s a great belief amongst this group and they’ve shown what they can do as a team over the course of the last number of games.

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“Argentina are going to present another big test for us. They have a lot of physicality up front as well as pace out wide so we are going to need to be at the top of our game tomorrow.”

The match will be broadcast live on TG4 and Sky Sports 3 and will be refereed by Craig Maxwell-Keys of the RFU.

IRELAND U20 (v Argentina U20, Manchester City Academy Stadium, Monday, 5.30pm): Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Matthew Byrne (Terenure/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Con/Munster), Conor O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Johnny McPhillips (Queen's University/Ulster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Ben Betts (Young Munster/Munster); Seán O'Connor (Cashel/Munster), James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (Capt); Greg Jones (UCD/Leinster), David Aspil (St Mary's/Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster).

Replacements: Vincent O'Brien (Cork Con/Munster), James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), Adam Coyle (Naas/Leinster), Evan Mintern (Cork Con/Munster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster), Niall Saunders (Harlequins), Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons), Jimmy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster).

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