Ireland U20's 2022

[mildlyinterested]

U20's in AIL action last weekend:

LH Prop
Alessandro Heaney(Exile) - started at 1 for UCC
Ben Popplewell(Wexford) - bench for Lansdowne

TH Prop
Corey Hanlon(CBC) - started at 3 for UCC
Joe Mahwinney(Ballymena) - started at 3 for Ballymena

Hooker
James McCormick(Dalradia) - started at 2 for Ballymena, 3 tries
Dylan Murphy(Nenagh) - started at 2 for Garryowen
Luke McAuliffe(CBC) - started at 2 for Cork Con
Howard Noonan(Greystones) - bench for Old Wesley

Lock
Adam McNamee(Methody) - started at 5 for Malone
Paddy Browne(Ballymena) - started at 4 for Ballymena
Ruairi Clarke(Cill Dara) - started at 4 for Lansdowne

Backrow
Jack O’Sullivan(Cobh) - started at 8 for UCC
James McNabney(Cambridge) - bench for Ballymena
Sam O’Sullivan(PBC) - bench for UCC

Scrumhalf
Adam Maher(Rockwell) - started at 9 for Young Munster
James Wright(Ballymena) - bench for Ballymena
Conor Duggan(Castleknock) - started at 9 for MU Barnhall

Outhalf
Tony Butler(Ennis) - started at 10 for Garryowen

Outside Backs
Sam Tarleton(Rockwell) - started at 13 for UCC
Darragh French(PBC) - bench for UCC
Patrick Campbell(PBC) - started at 15 for Young Munster

probably missing a few players..

[dropkick]

Any stand outs this year or is it too early to tell?

[mildlyinterested]

Any stand outs this year or is it too early to tell?

Patrick Campbell seems to be very highly regarded.

Jack Boyle is the best of the leinster group.

[mildlyinterested]

Prop
Ben Popplewell(Lansdowne) - started at 1
Alessandro Heaney(UCC) - started at 1
Corey Hanlon(UCC) - started at 3
Darragh McCarthy(Garryowen) - started at 3
Joe Mawhinney(Ballymena) - started at 3
Rory McGuire(UCD) - bench
Darragh McSweeney(Shannon) - bench
Kieran Ryan(Shannon) - bench

Hooker
James McCormick(Ballymena) - started at 2, 2 tries.
Luke McAuliffe(Cork Con) - started at 2
Dylan Murphy(Garryowen) - bench
Howard Noonan(Old Wesley) - bench

Lock
Edwin Edogbo(UCC) - started at 4
Adam McNamee(Malone) - started at 5

Backrow
Reuben Crothers(Ballynahinch) - started at 6
Diarmuid Mangan(UCD) - started at 6 - u19
Paddy Browne(Ballymena) - started at 6
James McNabney(Ballymena) - started at 8 - u19
Sam O’Sullivan(UCC) - bench
Jack O’Sullivan(UCC) - bench

Scrumhalf
Adam Maher(Young Munster) - started at 9
Conor Duggan(MU Barnhall) - started at 9

Outhalf
Tony Butler(Garryowen) - started at 10
Charlie Tector(Lansdowne) - started at 10
Ross McKay(Ballymena) - bench - u19

Outside Backs
Darragh French(UCC) - started at 10
David Dooley(MU Barnhall) - started at 12. - u19
Patrick Campbell(Young Munster) - started at 15, 1 try
Shay McCarthy(Young Munster) - started at 11
Aitzol Arenzana-King(Clontarf) - bench

[erskinechilders]

Intersting to see a strong Ulster contingent in the pack. Much needed to compliment the excellent backs produced in recent years.

[mildlyinterested]

you'd have hoped for a few more leinster u20 eligible players playing AIL regularly.

[mildlyinterested]

Prop
Alessandro Heaney(UCC) - started at 1
Joe Mawhinney(Ballymena) - started at 1
Corey Hanlon(UCC) - started at 3
Darragh McCarthy(Garryowen) - bench
Rory McGuire(UCD) - bench
Darragh McSweeney(Shannon) - bench
Kieran Ryan(Shannon) - bench

Hooker
James McCormick(Ballymena) - started at 2
Dylan Murphy(Garryowen) - started at 2
Howard Noonan(Old Wesley) - bench
Barry Gray(Clontarf) - bench

Lock
Adam McNamee(Malone) - started at 4
Diarmuid Mangan(UCD) - started at 5 - u19
Daniel Leane(St. Marys) - bench - u19

Backrow
Paddy Browne(Ballymena) - started at 6
James McNabney(Ballymena) - started at 8 - u19
Sam O’Sullivan(UCC) - bench
Jack O’Sullivan(UCC) - bench
Will McDonald(Old Belvedere) - bench

Scrumhalf
Adam Maher(Young Munster) - started at 9

Outhalf
Tony Butler(Garryowen) - started at 10
Charlie Tector(Lansdowne) - started at 10
Alex Wood(Garryowen) - bench

Outside Backs
Shay McCarthy(Young Munster) - started at 11
David Dooley(MU Barnhall) - started at 12.
Darragh French(UCC) - started at 13
Patrick Campbell(Young Munster) - started at 15
George Coomber(UCC) - started at 15, 1 try.
Aitzol Arenzana-King(Clontarf) - bench

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland U20s (v Italy):
15. Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby)
13. Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster)
12. Ben Brownlee (UCD RFC/Leinster)
11. Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
10. Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9. Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)

1. Ben Popplewell (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
2. Dylan Murphy (Garryowen FC/Munster)
3. Rory McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
4. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
7. Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(Captain)
8. James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
17. Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
18. Darragh McSweeney (Shannon RFC/Munster)
19. Fionn McWey (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
20. James McNabney (Ballymana RFC/Ulster)
21. Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22. Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster)
23. Darragh French (UCC RFC/Munster)
24. Conor Moloney (Young Munster/Munster)
25. Callum O’Reilly (Dublin University FC/Leinster).

[Mookie]

Thanks Mildly

[Lock9541]

Any links to the game ?

[dropkick]

Any links to the game ?

The said it would be live streamed but I can't find a link.

[mildlyinterested]

they lost 15-8, team was changed this morning due to covid:

Ireland U20s (v Italy):
15. Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby)
13. Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster)
12. Darragh French (UCC RFC/Munster)
11. Aitzol King (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
10. Tony Butler (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)

1. Ben Popplewell (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
2. Dylan Murphy (Garryowen FC/Munster)
3. Rory McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
4. James McNabney (Ballymana RFC/Ulster)
5. Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Conor Moloney (Young Munster/Munster)
7. Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(Captain)
8. Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)

Replacements:

16. Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
17. Kieran Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
18. Scott Wilson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
19. Paul Deeny (Clontarf/Leinster)
20. Howard Noonan (Old Wesley/Leinster)
21. Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22. Michael Moloney (UCD RFC/Leinster)
25. Callum O’Reilly (Dublin University FC/Leinster).

Two scrumhalves and two hookers on the bench.

[Mookie]

Italy were very impressive. Looked very strong and more cohesive than Ireland. Having said that, Ireland lost four players - two starters - due to Covid on the eve of the match. The Italians had a great scrum and line-out and were pretty dominant throughout. Ireland played better in the second half and were only four points behind until Italy scored a penalty a couple of minutes before the final whistle.

[Ruckedtobits]

So Stephen Aboud's influence continues in Italian Rugby. Another year of improved age grade performance and we'll see more demonstrations this season by May 2022. Benetton have their first European pot (now more successful than Munster over the past decade) and Zebre continue their progress under Michael Bradley, who incidentally should be in the conversation about a role in Munster.

Italian Rugby is not on a rocket trajectory but is steadily improving.

[Ruckedtobits]

Three very good additions to Irish U.20 coaching ticket in Willy Faloon, Mark Sexton and best of all Jimmy Duffy.

https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20s-coach ... 0-Dec2021/

It was somewhat of a surprise when Jimmy Duffy was let go by Connacht but he has added some interesting entries to his CV and no better man to bring on a bunch of inexperienced forwards. Don't know much about Faloon and Sexton as coaches but Richie is a good judge of coaches and he must have confidence in them.

The outcome will be interesting as there is plenty of talent in this Squad.

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland U20s (v Munster Development):

15. Patrick Campbell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
14. Chay Mullins (Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby)
13. Fionn Gibbons (UCD RFC/Leinster)
12. Daniel Hawkshaw (Belvedere College/Leinster)
11. Callum O’Reilly (Dublin University FC/Leinster)
10. Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9. Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster)

1. Oisin Michel (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
2. Josh Hanlon (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster) - u19
3. Rory McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
4. Mark Morrissey (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Conor Moloney (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
7. Reuben Crothers (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)(Captain)
8. James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster).

Replacements:
16. Howard Noonan (Temple Carrig School/Leinster)
17. Joe Mawhinney (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
18. JJ Hession (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
19. Fionn McWey (CC Roscrea/Leinster)
20. Lorcan McLoughlin (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
21. Michael Moloney (UCD RFC/Leinster)
22. Ross Taylor (Armagh/Ulster) - u19
23. Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC/Leinster).

[ormond lad]

Three very good additions to Irish U.20 coaching ticket in Willy Faloon, Mark Sexton and best of all Jimmy Duffy.

https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20s-coach ... 0-Dec2021/

It was somewhat of a surprise when Jimmy Duffy was let go by Connacht but he has added some interesting entries to his CV and no better man to bring on a bunch of inexperienced forwards. Don't know much about Faloon and Sexton as coaches but Richie is a good judge of coaches and he must have confidence in them.

The outcome will be interesting as there is plenty of talent in this Squad.

Jimmy wasnt so much let go but he wanted to go elsewhere. He turned down a contract extension.
Sexton has been coaching in club/schools for few years now but has been doing well and Faloon done lot good work in Armagh both in the club helping them win few senior cups and get from 2B to 1B in AIL. and the school were joint winners of schools cup in 2020 and have been increasing representation at provinicial/national level as well

[mildlyinterested]

irish 20's losing 13-7 at HT.

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland u20 win 21-13.

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland u20 win 21-13.

https://www.munsterfans.com/forum/rhaps ... ost2663696

Just back from a very wet and very miserable Musgrave Park. To save me re-writing this every time I mention a player making a mistake or a ball not going to hand, let me emphasise at the start just how rubbish the conditions were. There was a howling wind blowing fairly straight down the pitch from the Sundays Well end. Combine that with the constant rain and you had no conditions for running rugby. There also appeared to be a couple of changes before Kick Off, which doesn't help with continuity. Oji on the wing for Munster was one I noticed who did not tog out.

It finished 21-13 to Ireland.

The first 25 minutes or so were messy. Munster played with the wind, but Butler's kicking was hit and miss. He hit a couple of beauties into the corner, but overhit one dead and mi**** one into the corner when we had a winger in loads of space. Munster had the better (understandably with the wind) of the first 25 or so but fluffed 2 chances when deep in the Ireland 22. Ireland's handling (see paragraph 1 re the conditions) was poor when they did have the ball. A bit more composure was needed, but the Ireland back row (Moloney and Crothers especially) defended well. Ireland started to get on top then upfront. The Irish front 5 are BIG lads and they started bullying Munster a bit at scrum and maul time. Ireland scored first after about half an hour. A 5 metre lineout was worked inside and Crothers (I think) bundled over under the posts.

Munster picked it up at the end of the half though. Butler kicked to the corner and the Ireland maul was a mess. We picked up a lose ball and popped over in the corner (no idea who got it). Butler was wide with the kick. Munster started getting on top at the breakdown and won 2 penalties. Butler hit a beauty for 3 from a little left of the posts and outside their 10. He put the second right into the corner and we mauled over. Butler was just wide with a tough conversion.

13-7 to Munster at the break.

The second half started as messily as the first, and mirrored it in many ways. Munster couldn't hold onto the ball and our lineout started to malfunction. Ireland were lose with the ball, and Trector at 10 tried to hard several times when a simpler, more effective option was available.

Eventually Ireland's quality started to tell. Their lineout and maul started to function and they started making serious ground there. Their backrow (Crothers especially) also started winning the breakdown and making half breaks with ball in hand. Eventually Ireland built some phases and Hawkshaw (I think) kicked through for Gibbons the 13 to touch down under the post. Both sides emptied the benches and I expected Munster to get on top with a more experienced front row coming on. We didn't sadly and although we got parity in the scrums, we made no ground with ball in hands and our backs couldn't string 3 phases together before knocking on. Ireland kept the pressure up in the pack and eventually powered over from another maul in the corner. Ireland had another maul chance late on but some really stout munster defence kept them out.

It finished 21-13 to Ireland.

From a Munster perspective, Okeke, Phillips, Butler and Maher were the standouts for me. Maher controlled the game well from 9 (conditions again), Phillips was composed and dangerous on the counter. Butler got his kicking boots on as the game wore on and was the best 10 on show for me. He has some nice soft hands too. Okeke was the star performer in red though. That guy is going to be a serious player if he keeps improving at this rate. You just can't train that level of brawn into a young fella. In attack and defence he was a nightmare for the Irish lads (who wore blue for some reason). He looks ready for senior rugby and the likes of Jack Daly, Chris Cloete and even Jack O'Donoghue need to up their game in the coming weeks. This kid is coming for their jerseys and is well capable of passing those guys out.

Overall Ireland just had a bit more quality. The front 5 didn't do anything flash, they were just very big, technically very solid players. The 2 second rows especially impressed me in the dirty work they got through. Crothers was the pick of the forwards for me. He is well capable of doing the dogish 7 job, but has good hands and a good brain too. The highlights however were the Irish centres Hawkshaw and Gibbons. Hawkshaw looks a serious, serious prospect. He is big, quick, technically very good and with superb hands. This guy is as good a centre as I have seen at this level in years. Gibbons isn't far behind either. This kid is huge, and he has the skills and pace to match his size. Even in the rancid conditions they showed more than enough to indicate that they will be in Leinster senior contention sooner rather than later.

Of the munster lads in the Irish side, Moloney was the stand out. A big, teak tough youngfella who could have a big future. Coughlan passed well but his gesticulating at the base annoyed me. It is hard to get the ball out fast when you are waving your hands above your head. Campbell was solid under the high ball, but too slow to pass on a couple of occasions.

That's enough I think. Enjoyable game (they are all enjoyable in these covid times) in (did I mention this before?) terrible conditions. I saw enough from the Irish side here to indicate that they can have a cut off the 6 nations. And fingers crossed those games go ahead without issue in February.