Ireland under-20s coach Allen Clarke has made three changes to the side that faces Wales at the Parc y Scarlets in the final game of their Six Nations campaign on Friday evening.
In the frontrow, a positional switch sees prop Jack McGrath move to loosehead, while Adam Macklin starts at tighthead instead of Paddy McAllister, who moves to the bench.
The only change in the backline sees Leinster centre Shane Gahan replaces Ian McKinley.
Second-placed Ireland could yet win the tournament, though it would take an unlikely defeat to group leaders France in Italy.
For now, the priority for Clarke is an improvement on the performance that led to a 35-20 defeat to Scotland.
“With Adam Macklin and Shane Gahan coming into the starting lineup, we have focused on improving the accuracy and usage of ball from our set piece,” he said today.
“The response from the players after a below par performance against Scotland has been excellent and there is a strong determination to finish the Six Nations with a quality performance.”
Ireland U20 Team v Wales U20
D Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), R O’Mahony (Garryowen/Munster), S Gahan (Lansdowne/Leinster), E Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), M Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), M Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster); J McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), T Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), A Macklin (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); C Ruddock (Neath/Exiles), J Sandford (Queens University/Ulster); R Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (Captain)
Replacements: D McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster), P McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), M Flanagan (UCD/Leinster), M Noone (Seapoint/Leinster), C Murray (Garryowen/Munster), A Burke (Garryowen/Munster), Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster)
