Ireland U20 Keep Backline Unchanged And Name Eight Munster Players For Cork Finale
Head coach Andrew Browne has named the ireland u20 matchday squad for Sunday’s Six Nations finale against Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork, retaining an unchanged backline and selecting eight Munster players as they bid to finish on a high after three straight wins.
Ireland U20 Stick With Winning Formula
The back three of Noah Byrne, Derry Moloney and Daniel Ryan stays intact following last weekend’s victory over Wales, with James O’Leary and Rob Carney continuing in the centres. Scrum-half Christopher Barrett again partners out-half Tom Wood.
In the pack, Max Doyle, Duinn Maguire and captain Sami Bishti form the front row, backed by locks Joe Finn and Donnacha McGuire. The back row of Josh Neill at blindside, Ben Blaney at openside and number eight Diarmaid O’Connell completes the starting XV.
Five players — Carney, O’Leary, Wood, Barrett and Finn — are set for a fifth consecutive start in this championship. The bench features Lee Fitzpatrick, Christian Foley, Luke Murtagh, Dylan McNeice, Billy Hayes, James O’Dwyer, Charlie O’Shea and Johnny O’Sullivan, rounding out a matchday group with strong Munster representation.
Triple Crown At Stake, Slim Title Chance Still Alive
Browne’s side has mirrored the seniors’ arc, responding to a heavy opening defeat in France by piecing together three wins on the bounce: edging Italy 30-27, delivering a standout 31-21 performance in Bath against England, and then defeating Wales 48-33 in Cork. That surge has them chasing the Triple Crown on the final day and holding a mathematical, if very slim, chance of claiming the championship.
Ireland sit on 15 match points, five behind unbeaten France, who own a superior points difference heading into the last round. A win over Scotland would also lock in a strong finish, with second place in reach as this productive campaign closes.
Looking ahead to the summer, it remains to be seen whether Browne continues in charge for the World Championship in Georgia or whether incoming three-year head coach Cullie Tucker steps in before that tournament.
Scotland’s Form And The Cork Factor
History and current form both point to a demanding task for the visitors. Ireland have won all nine home meetings at this level against Scotland. While Scotland opened this championship with a 36-10 victory over Italy in Treviso, they have since fallen to England (33-17) and France (45-26) at home, and to Wales (31-21) away. More broadly, Scotland have won just three of their last 29 games in the Under-20 Six Nations.
The ireland u20 side will again have home support in Cork as they look to cap their turnaround with a fourth straight win, an eighth-straight home victory in this fixture, and silverware in the form of a Triple Crown.
