The under-20 World Rugby Championship: Ireland to face Australia, in Cape Town on Tuesday, July 9th at 1pm. This match will be televised live on RugbyPass TV. This updated Ireland under-20 team just needs to avoid losing to Australia in order to secure the top position in Pool B and advance to the semi-finals. Even if they suffer a loss but manage to secure two bonus points – one for making four tries, and the other for a loss by seven or less points – they’ll still proceed in the championship.
This fortunate position for Willie Faloon’s team comes as a result of Italy’s 17-12 triumph over the Australians. The same Italian team, despite various changes to its XV, was defeated by Ireland in the first match with the result being 55-15.
Ireland made several changes following their nail-biting victory against Georgia, which they narrowly won as a result of Finn Treacy’s last minute try. This win could have easily been a loss, as the Georgian team tested Ireland’s resolve, despite their more resounding loss to Australia.
Faloon has made 12 changes to his initial XV following the close shave against Georgia. This was expected, given the need for rotation. The regular backline from this year’s Six Nations campaign is back. Notreably, Jack Murphy and Oliver Coffey return as halfback partners, with Wilhelm de Klerk and Hugh Gavin at centre. Ben O’Connor, Finn Treacy, and Hugo McLaughlin form a familiar trio in the back three.
Melvyn Jaminet of France has been suspended due to a controversial social media post, leading to a ministerial appeal for no tolerance of racism.
New faces are set to feature in the forward pack following injuries and the previous match’s performance. The starting front row, who previously struggled, will now include Emmet Calvey at loose-head, with Danny Sheehan and Patreece Bell retaining their positions as hooker and tight-head. Regular captain Evan O’Connell is unavailable due to injury, hence Brian Gleeson steps in as captain. Bryn Ward, James McKillop, and Billy Corrigan will be part of the backrow, with Corrigan replacing O’Connell at lock, and Alan Spicer of UCD as his partner.
The scenario couldn’t be more straightforward for Ireland against the still-recovering junior Wallabies. A victory would launch them into the semi-finals for the second year in a row. Even a loss could be palatable, but only if they acquire bonus points. A defeat without bonus points, however, would put them in the tricky position of having to fight for a spot as the best-performing runner-up, a task that involves stressful monitoring of happenings in other matches.
The Irish line-up includes B O’Connor; F Treacy, W de Klerk, Hugh Gavin, H McLaughlin; J Murphy, O Coffey; E Calvey, D Sheehan, P Bell; A Spicer, B Corrigan; J McKillop, B Ward, B Gleeson (captain). Said replacements are S Smyth, J Boyd, A Sparrow, S Edogbo, M Flynn, T Brophy, S Naughton, D Colbert.
On the flip side, Australia is represented by S Wilcox; A Saunders, K Pritchard, J McLeod, R Leahy; L Ieli, O Tuipulotu, N Bloomfield; T MacPherson (captain), O McCrea; A Ekanayake, D Sawers, J Harley. The reserve players are B Edwards, N Tiitii, T King, E Doyle, A Durbidge, D Thygesen, B Dickens, B Fakafanua.