Under-21 international: The Irish Under-21 side will be bidding to keep their Six Nations ambitions alive when they take on Wales at Dubarry Park, Athlone, this evening (7.35 pm).
The under-21s, similar to the senior side, have recorded a win and a defeat to date this season and their campaign is likely to hinge on the outcome of their clash with the Welsh.
The Welsh, like their own senior side, come here as Grand Slam winners with last year's victory over the Irish giving them their third clean sweep at under-21 level in six years.
Accordingly, Mark McDermott knows his side face a searching test. They recorded a convincing 34-9 win over Italy at the Athlone venue in their opening game. However, they then suffered a 29-10 loss against France in Strasbourg.
The sin-binning of loosehead Darragh Hickey was a key factor in that defeat, with the French scoring three tries while the UCC prop was off the field.
McDermott has made three changes to the side which went down to the French, including two in the backrow.
Michael Essex of UCC comes into the side in place of Ross Noonan, while Seán O'Brien, captain of the Irish Youths last year and who is still under-19, is named at number eight.
The player to lose out is UCC's Billy Holland, son of the Munster manager Jerry.
Jonathan Sexton has been replaced at outhalf by Garryowen's Conan Doyle, who switches from inside centre.
His place at number 12 has been taken by Fergus McFadden, a player who has played most of his rugby up to now at fullback.
The Irish team will be led by hooker Stuart Philpott, a former academy player with Saracens who earlier this season took up a development contract with Ulster and plays for Belfast Harlequins.
Wales may still harbour aspirations of retaining their Six Nations crown, but there will be no Grand Slam for them this time round having lost their opening game to England.
They went down 26-19 to the English but then bounced back last time out to defeat Scotland 34-24.
The Welsh hero was outhalf James Hook, who created their four tries and kicked 14 points himself as they came from behind to win.
They have made one change from the side which defeated Scotland with centre Tom Riley of Pontypridd coming in for Dafydd Hewitt.
Wales won the corresponding fixture 32-5 last year at The Gnoll to claim the Grand Slam but there are few survivors from either side.
IRELAND: F Carr (Blackrock), P Durcan (Galwegians), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), F McFadden (UCD), M Williams (Bristol Shoguns, Hartpury College); C Doyle (Garryowen), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); D Hurley (UCC), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University); D Toner (Lansdowne), D Touhy (Gloucester, Hartpury College); M Essex (UCC), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), S O'Brien (UCD).
Replacements: S Cronin (Shannon), C Black (Worcester Warriors, Hartpury College), D McGowan (Buccaneers), B Holland (UCC), D Williams (UCC), T Gleeson (Cork Con), J Sexton (St Mary's).
WALES: J Roberts (Cardiff, Blues Academy); D Daniel (Llanelli, Scarlets Academy); A Bishop (Ospreys), T Riley (Pontypridd, Blues Academy), C Czekaj (Cardiff Blues); J Hook (Neath, Ospreys Academy), M Roberts (Neath, Ospreys Academy); R Gill (Cardiff, Blues Academy), D Goodfield (Pontypridd, Blues Academy), P Osborne (Newport); A Wyn Jones (Neath, Ospreys Academy), D Day (Carmarthen Quins, Scarlets Academy); C Everett (Worcester Academy), R Shellard (Pontypridd/Blues Academy), T Smith (Neath, Ospreys Academy). Replacements: E Shervington (Neath), I Jones (Llanelli, Scarlets Academy), W Jones (Newport, Dragons Academy), B Lewis (Neath, Ospreys Academy), D Hewitt (Cardiff, Blues Academy), A Thomas (Newport, Dragons Academy), L Davies (Llanelli, Scarlets Academy).
