Rugby: Ireland coach Mike Ruddock has made five changes to his under-20 side ahead of the Junior World Championship clash with Scotland on Saturday.
After a narrow defeat but impressive performance against South Africa, Ruddock has opted for experience by recalling Luke Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Andrew Boyle to the backline.
Iain Henderson will start in the secondrow alongside Michael Kearney and Dominic Gallagher’s return to the backrow moves Jordi Murphy to number eight.
Ireland lost 33-25 in their opening fixture against England and were outmuscled by the ‘Baby Boks’, losing 42-26, but their performances have been laced with some excellent attacking rugby.
However, Ruddock expects another tough test against the Scots, who were beaten 39-18 by England and 33-0 by South Africa.
“Following two very physical battles we have turned our attention to a Scotland team that is much improved from the Six Nations,” said the coach today. “They played very well against England and play a very expansive off loading game.
“We will have to be at our best to beat them and that is our goal. I have made five changes to the starting line up with experienced players like Luke Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Andrew Boyle coming back into the team.”
No team is eliminated after the first round but only the top four teams from three groups progress to the semi-finals.
A win over Scotland would see Ireland well placed to finish outside the top four but within the top eight. They would then compete for the highest ranking possible with three other teams ranked between fifth and eight.
Ireland: 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), Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University/Ulster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster).
Replacements: David Doyle (UCD/Leinster), Conor Carey (Ballymena/Ulster), Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), Peter du Toit (UCD/Leinster), James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
