Useful guide ahead of Under-19 World Cup

Ireland U-19 v England U-19 (Stradbrook, today, 2

Ireland U-19 v England U-19 (Stradbrook, today, 2.0): Pat Murray will be hoping to learn more about his charges from this international and the amount of work required ahead of next month's Under-19 World Cup in Durban, South Africa.

The Ireland coach has chosen a couple of schoolboys in the team to face England at Stradbrook today in promising young Clongowes centre Fergus McFadden and David Sherry of Ard Scoil Rís.

Also included is last year's Ireland Schools' captain Diarmuid Laffan. A great deal will be expected of gifted full back Robert Kearney and it'll be interesting to see how an exceptional talent at schools level last season copes with this grade.

Matthew D'Arcy is a decent scrumhalf with a good break and his partnership with Killian Lett will be important.

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The 6ft 10ins secondrow Devon Toner should guarantee a supply of ball out of touch while there is plenty of footballing ability in the backrow.

IRELAND: R Kearney (UCD); R Boles (Colston's College), F McFadden (Clongowes Wood College), Evan Ryan (UCC), D Black (Portadown); K Lett (UCD), M D'Arcy (Dublin University); G Walsh (UL Bohemians), G O'Meara (Lansdowne), K Griffin (Shannon); D McGowan (Buccaneers), D Toner (Lansdowne); D Twomey (Sunday's Well), D Laffen (Dublin University), D Sherry (Ard Scoil Rís).

Replacements: C Black (Hartpury College), K Moloney (Blackrock College RFC), C Muldoon (Galwegians), A Saunderson (Ballyclare), M Rantz-McDonald (Mount Temple), P Durcan (Cistercian College, Roscrea), G Cooney (Old Belvedere), D Cave (Sullivan Upper School), Fl Walsh (UCC), B O'Mahony (Crescent College Comprehensive).

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer