Ireland Under 20 2017

[simonokeeffe]

I'm sure we won't see the best of the U20s until the JWC (or whatever its called now) in the summer. The Welsh and English send their U18 and U19 squads to play a tournament in South Africa every year which is an advantage for them.

Of course. Welsh, English do send their 18s to South Africa but also get guys playing Premiership, A level and if not in championship so playing pro rugby and at a decent level much more than we do.

Wales seem to have gone for a model of lets just send out the biggest u20 team we can assemble
Based on anecdotal evidence the Welsh underage structures (to a fairly young age) have a massive overemphasis on bulk/size and a lack of focus on skills

[goreyguy]

I'm sure we won't see the best of the U20s until the JWC (or whatever its called now) in the summer. The Welsh and English send their U18 and U19 squads to play a tournament in South Africa every year which is an advantage for them.

Of course. Welsh, English do send their 18s to South Africa but also get guys playing Premiership, A level and if not in championship so playing pro rugby and at a decent level much more than we do.

Wales seem to have gone for a model of lets just send out the biggest u20 team we can assemble
Based on anecdotal evidence the Welsh underage structures (to a fairly young age) have a massive overemphasis on bulk/size and a lack of focus on skills

odd that their backs are usually more skillful than irish ones at u20 level then.

[dropkick]

Of course. Welsh, English do send their 18s to South Africa but also get guys playing Premiership, A level and if not in championship so playing pro rugby and at a decent level much more than we do.

Wales seem to have gone for a model of lets just send out the biggest u20 team we can assemble
Based on anecdotal evidence the Welsh underage structures (to a fairly young age) have a massive overemphasis on bulk/size and a lack of focus on skills

odd that their backs are usually more skillful than irish ones at u20 level then.

That's not how I remember recent games between the teams.
They say themselves that they've gone too much for physicality and want to up their skill levels. The English did that years ago.

[El Diablo]

Ciaran Frawley (outhalf) is on the bench tonight for the Leinster A team in Nottingham (Larmour as well). Frawley did well coming off the bench for Ireland U20s against Munster over Christmas. Conor Dean has a slight injury at the moment so it is going to be a tight call at OH for the 6 Nation opener. Perhaps there is someone else in the mix as well....not sure.

[goreyguy]

Ciaran Frawley (outhalf) is on the bench tonight for the Leinster A team in Nottingham (Larmour as well). Frawley did well coming off the bench for Ireland U20s against Munster over Christmas. Conor Dean has a slight injury at the moment so it is going to be a tight call at OH for the 6 Nation opener. Perhaps there is someone else in the mix as well....not sure.

Frawley was reportedly very poor at 12 for Ireland u20 against Leinster.

Right now I'd guess Conor Fitzgerald will be the starting 10 with Johnston and McPhillips not available.

Munster u20's playing in A game:
Calvin Nash(starting wing)
Gavin Coombes(starting
Fineen Whycherly(bench lock)
John Foley(bench backrow)
Alex McHenry(bench back)
Alan Tynan(bench back)

Ulster u20's named in A game:
Johnny McPhillips(starting 10)
Jonny Stewart(starting 9)
Rory Butler(starting 13)

[erskinechilders]

Would I be wrong in thinking that the backline will look like :

15. Lyttle
14. Nash
13. Kelly
12. AN other
11. Larmour
10. Fitzgerald/ Johnston/ Phillips
9. Stewart

[El Diablo]

Would I be wrong in thinking that the backline will look like :

15. Lyttle
14. Nash
13. Kelly
12. AN other
11. Larmour
10. Fitzgerald/ Johnston/ Phillips
9. Stewart

Tommy O'Brien of UCD (ex-Blackrock) at 12. he is young but he is in top form.
I would have thought Conor Dean was well in the mix at outhalf. He has had lots of experience with Mary's AIL team this year.
Jack Kelly's best position is 15. He is great running from deep in broken play for Trinity.

[goreyguy]

Don't think lyttle will be released. Johnston is out injured.

[goreyguy]

A guess at starting lineup for 1st game:

1. Greg McGrath
2. Tadgh McElroy
3. Peter Cooper
4. Fineen Whycherly
5. Cillian Gallagher
6. Caelan Doris
7. John Foley
8. Gavin Coombes
9. Jonny Stewart
10. Conor Fitzgerald
11. Jordan Larmour
12. Tommy O'Brien
13. Jack Kelly
14. Calvin Nash
15. Colm Hogan

[El Diablo]

A guess at starting lineup for 1st game:

1. Greg McGrath
2. Tadgh McElroy
3. Peter Cooper
4. Fineen Whycherly
5. Cillian Gallagher
6. Caelan Doris
7. John Foley
8. Gavin Coombes
9. Jonny Stewart
10. Conor Fitzgerald
11. Jordan Larmour
12. Tommy O'Brien
13. Jack Kelly
14. Calvin Nash
15. Colm Hogan

Cooper injured. Charlie Connolly ex Blackrock College tight head has a chance. There will proably be a 6N squad announcement in the coming days.

[goreyguy]

Cooper played for ulster a at the weekend so he isn't injured

Squad to be announced 2moro

[El Diablo]

Cooper played for ulster a at the weekend so he isn't injured

Squad to be announced 2moro

I will have to have a word with my sources....apologies!

[goreyguy]

LH Prop
Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Rory Mulvihill (UCD/Leinster)

Hooker
Tadgh McElroy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster)(U19)

TH Prop
Peter Cooper (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster)

Lock
Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Cillian Gallagher (Corinthians/Connacht)
Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster)
Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster)

Backrow
Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)
Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College/Leinster)(U19)
John Foley (Shannon/Munster)
Marcus Rea (Queen's University/Ulster)
Sean Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)(U19)

Scrumhalf
Jonny Stewart (Queen's University/Ulster)(U19)
Jack Lyons (Young Munster/Munster)

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)
Conor Dean (St. Mary's College/Leinster) (U19)
Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster)
Johnny McPhillips (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Outside backs
Rory Butler (Queen's University/Ulster)
Peadar Collins (Garryowen/Munster)
Liam Coombes (Garryowen/Munster)
Colm Hogan (Dublin University/Munster)
Gavin Mullin (UCD/Leinster)
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)
Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)(U19)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University/Leinster) (capt)
Jordan Larmour (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Robert Lyttle (Queen's University/Ulster)

[Armchair]

Wow I had McGrath as a probable starter and his Lansdowne teammate Mulhall as a squad member but neither have made the squad! They have dominated Mulvihill & Connolly who are deemed ahead of them, strange call in my opinion. I would worry hugely about our front row in this competition. Any other contentions omissions or selections?

[goreyguy]

Wow I had McGrath as a probable starter and his Lansdowne teammate Mulhall as a squad member but neither have made the squad! They have dominated Mulvihill & Connolly who are deemed ahead of them, strange call in my opinion. I would worry hugely about our front row in this competition. Any other contentions omissions or selections?

Front row is bay far the weakest area, agreed on McGrath not making it at all.. not surprised Mulhall didn't as he wasn't named in training squad over christmas.

Ronan Kelleher getting in despite not playing a game this season is an odd one, although he is extremely talented.

No natural 7 is somewhat surprising.

other than that i can't see much.

[El Diablo]

Wow I had McGrath as a probable starter and his Lansdowne teammate Mulhall as a squad member but neither have made the squad! They have dominated Mulvihill & Connolly who are deemed ahead of them, strange call in my opinion. I would worry hugely about our front row in this competition. Any other contentions omissions or selections?

The Lansdown u20s scrum has done very well from what I have seen but clearly Charlie Connolly has done well and impressed in training as he has come from way back. He was on the bench for Rock this time last year. Big boy.
Gavin Mullin has done well coming back from injury. He has been out for quite a while and I don't think he has had any game time yet. Conor Dean picked up an injury at the weekend. Could be out for a few weeks.
You would have to think the lack of experienced players at u20 international level will make it tough for them. Fingers crossed.

[Armchair]

Yeah was wondering on Kelleher all right would make you think it is hard to play your way into this team & picked from provincial games back in the summer. McGrath definetley unlucky rate him higher than both Connolly and Mulvihill as he covers both sides but powers that be think otherwise.

[goreyguy]

Wow I had McGrath as a probable starter and his Lansdowne teammate Mulhall as a squad member but neither have made the squad! They have dominated Mulvihill & Connolly who are deemed ahead of them, strange call in my opinion. I would worry hugely about our front row in this competition. Any other contentions omissions or selections?

The Lansdown u20s scrum has done very well from what I have seen but clearly Charlie Connolly has done well and impressed in training as he has come from way back. He was on the bench for Rock this time last year. Big boy.
Gavin Mullin has done well coming back from injury. He has been out for quite a while and I don't think he has had any game time yet. Conor Dean picked up an injury at the weekend. Could be out for a few weeks.
You would have to think the lack of experienced players at u20 international level will make it tough for them. Fingers crossed.

Mullin has played two games since returning for injury.

Gavin Coombes injured too.

[goreyguy]

Yeah was wondering on Kelleher all right would make you think it is hard to play your way into this team & picked from provincial games back in the summer. McGrath definetley unlucky rate him higher than both Connolly and Mulvihill as he covers both sides but powers that be think otherwise.

Kelleher didn't even play in the interpros.

Leinster coaches obviously rated McGrath higher than those two aswell.

Could see this scrum being taken apart during the 6 nations.

[Armchair]

Yeah was wondering on Kelleher all right would make you think it is hard to play your way into this team & picked from provincial games back in the summer. McGrath definetley unlucky rate him higher than both Connolly and Mulvihill as he covers both sides but powers that be think otherwise.

Kelleher didn't even play in the interpros.

I know Leinster rate him highly but his injury profile has to be a major concern. Who are the other options at 2 from Munster, Connacht & Ulster