Rugby: Ireland under-20 coach Mike Ruddock believes his team can learn from the mistakes made against South Africa last week and push the Baby Boks all the way in their play-off game at the Junior World Championships in Italy.
Ireland played some scintillating attacking rugby and scored two tries through Andrew Conway, but lost 42-26 to the South Africans in the group stages.
With another chance presenting itself so soon, in the fifth - eighth place play-off on Saturday, Ruddock reckons his side has learned enough to withstand the physicality of their opponents.
“It's not that often that you get the opportunity to benchmark yourselves against the might of South Africa at this age grade and so having a second chance within eight days is rather unique,” said the coach today.
“It is up to my players to put into practice the lessons learnt last time out. If we do that then we will improve our performance. If we improve on our last performance then we will be in the game big time.”
Ruddock has made just one change for the game, calling on UCD and Leinster’s David Doyle to replace Dominic Gallagher in the backrow.
Ulster’s Finlay Bealham and Leinster’s Alex Kelly have been named among the replacements for the game at the Stadio Plebiscito, in Padova (7.10pm Irish time).
Ireland U20 (v South Africa):Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht); Andrew Conway (Blackrock/Leinster), Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Andrew Boyle (UCD/Leinster); Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Kieran Marmion (UWIC/Exile); James Tracy (UCD/Leinster), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) (capt), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster); Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster); Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht), David Doyle (UCD/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Replacements:Finlay Bealham (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Conor Carey (Ballymena/Ulster), Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), Peter du Toit (UCD/Leinster), James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster), Alex Kelly (UCD - Leinster)
