LEINSTER v CONNACHT, Donnybrook (7.30, tonight)
THE BARE statistics would support a Leinster victory, as they are the only unbeaten team in this season’s championship, having beaten Munster and Ulster, writes John O’Sullivan.
Connacht enjoyed an excellent 19-15 over Munster in their first outing, and were only narrowly denied 34-27 by Ulster last time out.
Blackrock schoolboys Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken have been touted as potentially good enough to make their senior competitive debuts for Leinster – Macken did play in pre-season for Michael Cheika’s side – this season but they are not alone in terms of quality.
UCD halfbacks Noel Reid and John Cooney provide direction and guile while, up front, Jack O’Connell leads by deed. Ireland Under-20 international Rhys Ruddock is in the replacements.
Connacht also possess some talent, notably right wing Tiernan O’Halloran.
LEINSTER UNDER-20:A Conway (Blackrock); C Lilly (St Mary's), B Macken (Blackrock), D Lynch (UCD), D Hudson (St Mary's); N Reid (UCD), J Cooney (UCD); J O'Connell (Lansdowne, capt), R Byrne (UCD), M Moore (Lansdowne); R Lennon (St Mary's), B Marshall (UCD); J Murphy (Blackrock), R O'Sullivan (Bective Rangers), R Bent (UCD). Replacements: P Kilcoyne (Blackrock), C O'Brien (tbc), C Deans (Terenure), R Ruddock (UCD), B Kingston (Blackrock), G Nyawata (Old Belvedere), C Rowden (UU).
CONNACHT UNDER-20:P Finn (Buccaneers); T O'Halloran (Connemara), E Griffin (Corinthians), F Gormley (Corinthians), C Conroy (Galwegians); C Murphy (Corinthians), A Kennedy (Buccaneers); D Buckley (Creggs), K Egan (Corinthians), J Robinson (Corinthians); S Casey (Corinthians), D Phelan (Corinthians); A Spring (Sligo), R Cunningham (Galwegians), S Conneely (Corinthians). Replacements: T Thompson (Buccaneers), D Henshaw (Buccaneers), C Rafferty (Corinthians), R Kerins (UL Bohs), M Dolan (Buccaneers), K Russell (Corinthians), M O'Flynn (Corinthians).
ULSTER v MUNSTER, Ravenhill (7.30, tonight)
Ulster coach Jonny Bell makes three changes to the side that beat Connacht. Impressive young centre Michael Allen has been ruled out with concussion, so Paddy Irwin moves in from the right wing with Roger McBurney coming into the team.
Jonny Simpson is named at loosehead prop for Mike Reid, while Jonny Heron will start instead of Paddy Marks: both Reid and Marks drop to the bench.
Ulster team manager John McKibbin insisted: “The side that played against Connacht did extremely well and showed tremendous character and discipline in what was one of the best games of rugby that I have seen at age grade level. However, Munster will present us with different challenges and the team has been selected accordingly.
“Paddy Irwin played a number of the warm-up games at centre and Roger McBurney was in the starting team against Leinster, so I have no concerns about any of these changes.”
Munster, coached by Anthony Foley, lost narrowly to Connacht (19-15) and with five minutes remaining were level pegging with Leinster before conceding a couple of converted tries.
ULSTER UNDER-20:C Gaston (CAI); R McBurney (Ballymena), K Moore (Ballymena), P Irwin (Instonians), J Nash (Ballynahinch); J McKinney (QUB), M Heaney (Belfast Harlequins); J Simpson (Banbridge), A Warrick (Ballymena), F Lynch (Ballynahinch); J Herron (QUB), J Simpson (Ballynahinch); J Burns (Ballymena), P Pritchard (Ballymena, capt), S Mulholland (Cambridge House). Replacements: M Reid (Dungannon), D Maxwell (Malone), P Marks (Instonians), A Warwicker (CAI), M Lawton (Ards), M O'Connor (City of Derry), R McQueen (Ballymena).
MUNSTER UNDER-20S:L O'Dea (Shannon); D Moroney (UL Bohs), M Kelleher (Richmond), G Quinn McDonagh (Shannon), S Zebo (Cork Con); C O'Flynn (Dolphin), D O'Driscoll (Cork Con); B Cagney (UCC), D Casey (Clanwilliam), P Ryan (Highfield); E Kelly (UL Bohs), B Hayes (Cork Con, capt); D Heffernan (Shannon), J Quill (UCC), P Butler (Shannon). Replacements: JP Cooney (Garryowen), B Cullinane (Garryowen), G Burke (Young Munster), S Duggan (Shannon), D Landy (Clonakilty).
