JUNIOR WORLD CUP Ireland Under-20 v England Under-20:IF IT ain't broken, then don't fix it may be England's approach to this evening's opening game in the Under-20 Junior World Championship in Treviso, but it is all change for Ireland as they bid to turn over one of the tournament favourites.
England have named the same 15 that brushed Ireland aside 46-15 in Athlone in March, but just four Ireland players survive for this evening’s game at Stadio Monigo (kick-off 5.10pm Irish time).
Coach Mike Ruddock had his hands tied in March as the provinces had first call on players for Magners League duty and only winger Andrew Boyle, prop James Tracy, lock Michael Kearney and flanker Jordi Murphy started in that six tries to two loss.
England went on to complete the grand slam and have decided against change, which means Owen Farrell, son of former league and union player Andy, has to be content with a place on the bench after guiding Saracens to the Premiership title.
England captain Alex Gray, who has made 13 appearances for Newcastle Falcons, said he expects a much different challenge from Ireland this time.
“They have got their Magners League players back and they will have fire in their bellies. This is a wholly different competition and Ireland will be a different proposition,” he said.
His counterpart, Niall Annett of Belfast Harlequins and Ulster, feels his side are more than capable of a shock. He said they have the capability to get off to a winning start.
“Obviously the English are a very strong team. They had a grand slam win and that is full credit to them. We are taking the underdogs label at the minute and that is okay with us. We’ll just go about our business.
“We are really looking forward to the first game but we think we are good enough to win this tournament.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we were good enough to win,” said Annett.
Annett, one of eight in the squad who also played in last year’s event in Argentina where Ireland lost all three pool games before finishing ninth, said the Ireland backs were capable of beating anyone.
“We have a lot of strength in the back line. The back line has a lot of Magners League experience throughout, guys who have played up to 10 times and scored a lot of tries in the Magners League.
“The back line is a very exciting prospect if we can get good ball to them as a pack,” he added.
Ruddock said the much changed Ireland side could catch England in the opening game and he is boosted by the availability of flanker Murphy, who was doubtful with an ankle injury.
“All those changes will make it a lot harder for them to analyse us and work out where we might have the threats.
“We have a totally different team now, with different players; players who have a lot of experience under their belts and particularly in terms of the pro game, in the Magners League and so on. We think we can really give a good account of ourselves,” said Ruddock.
Ireland went through their final preparations during the captain’s run yesterday evening at the match venue in the rain which has been almost ever present since the Irish squad arrived in northern Italy earlier this week.
Venue: Stadio Monigo Kick-off: 5.10pm On TV: Sky Sports 4
IRELAND: C Gilroy (Dungannon); A Conway (Blackrock), B Macken (Blackrock), L Marshall (Ballymena), A Boyle (UCD); P Jackson (Dungannon), K Marmion (Univ of Wales Inst); J Tracy (UCD), N Annett (Belfast Harlequins), T Furlong (Clontarf); M Kearney (Clontarf), I Henderson (Queen's ); J Murphy (Lansdowne), D Gallagher (Dublin Univ), E McKeon (Galwegians). Replacements: D Doyle (UCD), C Carey (Ballymena), D Qualter (Buccaneers), S Buckley (Garryowen), P Du Toit (UCD), J McKinney (Queen's), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians).
ENGLAND: B Ransom; A Short, E Daly, R Mills, J Joseph; G Ford, C Cook; M Vunipola, M Haywood, H Thomas; J Launchbury, C Matthews; M Kvesic, M Everard, A Gray (capt). Replacements: R Buchanan, R Bower, S Twomey, S Jones, D Robson, O Farrell , M Yarde.
