IRELAND UNDER 20s coach Mike Ruddock has named just two debutants in his starting XV for Monday morning’s Junior World Championship Pool B clash with France in Auckland.
Powerful ball-carrier Jack O’Donoghue captains the side featuring 10 representatives from Leinster with Galwegians wing Ciaran Gaffney and Terenure tighthead Craig Trenier representing the untested players at this level.
Ulster’s only representative in the squad Frank Taggart starts at openside flanker while Young Munster centre Dan Goggin finds himself moved to number 12 to partner Gary Ringrose.
Fullback Billy Dardis (who missed the Six Nations campaign through injury) Dylan Donnellan and the Munster trio of Darragh Moloney, Diarmaid Dee and Ryan Foley represent the five uncapped ‘Wolfpuppies’ on the replacements bench.
Ireland U20 v France (KO 6.35am Irish time – broadcast live on TG4)
15. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
14. Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)*
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster).
12. Dan Goggin (Young Munster/Munster)
11. Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
1. Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2. Max Abbott (Cork Constitution/Munster)
3. Craig Trenier (Terenure/Leinster) *
4. Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Ross Molony (UCD/Leinster)
6. Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)
7. Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
8. Jack O’ Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) capt
Replacements:
16. Dylan Donnellan (UCD/Leinster) *
17. Denis Coulson (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18. Rory Burke (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19. Darragh Moloney (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
20. Diarmaid Dee (Young Munster/Munster) *
21. Ryan Foley (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
22. Conor McKeon (Lansdowne/Leinster)
23. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster) *
