Ireland U20s 2023

[mildlyinterested]

Is McCarthy playing loose or tight ?

expect he will play tighthead.

[mildlyinterested]

Wales U20 team to face Ireland U20: 15. Cameron Winnett, 14. Llien Morgan, 13. Louie Hennessey, 12. Harri Ackerman, 11. Harri Houston, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Archie Hughes; 1. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 2. Sam Scarfe, 3. Tomas Pritchard, 4. Liam Edwards, 5. Jonny Green, 6. Ryan Woodman (c), 7. Luca Giannini,
8. Huw Davies

Replacements: 16. Isaac Young, 17. Freddie Chapman, 18. Ellis Fackrell, 19. Owain Evans, 20. Mackenzie Martin, 21. Harri Williams, 22. Harrison James, 23. Tom Florence (Ospreys)

[mildlyinterested]

irish team....

[munster#1]

Ireland U20s:
15. James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
14. Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)
13. Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
12. John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
11. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
9. Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)

1. George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(captain)
3. Paddy McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster)
4. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)
6. James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
7. Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
8. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
17. George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18. Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
19. Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20. Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
21. Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
22. Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)
23. Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster).

[Flash Gordon]

9 of the starting XV from Leinster, just 2 from Munster and 1 from Ulster. Really poor return from the other provinces. Irish teams should be balanced but the academies are still not producing the goods to ask the questions on selection.

[Keith]

9 of the starting XV from Leinster, just 2 from Munster and 1 from Ulster. Really poor return from the other provinces. Irish teams should be balanced but the academies are still not producing the goods to ask the questions on selection.

I'd be happy with Connacht's representation in the 23 here, can't ask for much more. Ulster are an absolute embarrassment, no doubt they will have to sign more Leinster players to fill their squad in the coming years.

[Ruckedtobits]

Surprised Nicholson got in ahead of McErlean. Reports were he was playing v well for Terenure in AIL

[Flash Gordon]

9 of the starting XV from Leinster, just 2 from Munster and 1 from Ulster. Really poor return from the other provinces. Irish teams should be balanced but the academies are still not producing the goods to ask the questions on selection.

I'd be happy with Connacht's representation in the 23 here, can't ask for much more. Ulster are an absolute embarrassment, no doubt they will have to sign more Leinster players to fill their squad in the coming years.

It's not good enough really. The mood isn't really helped by the fact that their fans love a good rant on social media about selection bias. Creating the problem with a poor academy output and then blaming others for that is a bit ridiculous. You wonder where the accountability for this is within the IFRU, normally if you fund something you'd expect a return on investment.

[mildlyinterested]

Surprised Nicholson got in ahead of McErlean. Reports were he was playing v well for Terenure in AIL

Very surprising, but Murphy has history of prefering bigger backs.. McErlean also had a finger injury recently

[RAZZO]

Gunne & Cawley at 9. I know Oliver was injured in warm up Interpros but didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about. Anyone know if it’s serious likely to affect remaining series? Great shout for Cawley

[munster#1]

9 of the starting XV from Leinster, just 2 from Munster and 1 from Ulster. Really poor return from the other provinces. Irish teams should be balanced but the academies are still not producing the goods to ask the questions on selection.

I'd be happy with Connacht's representation in the 23 here, can't ask for much more. Ulster are an absolute embarrassment, no doubt they will have to sign more Leinster players to fill their squad in the coming years.

It's not good enough really. The mood isn't really helped by the fact that their fans love a good rant on social media about selection bias. Creating the problem with a poor academy output and then blaming others for that is a bit ridiculous. You wonder where the accountability for this is within the IFRU, normally if you fund something you'd expect a return on investment.

Honest question, as often players don’t join an academy until U20s level or after.
How many of these under 20 players are currently in academies?
Might be a bit generous to talk up or down academies if many of the players have been developed by private investment into fee paying schools?

Edit: 2 of the 4 Munster players are in the academy.

[naraic]

I'd be happy with Connacht's representation in the 23 here, can't ask for much more. Ulster are an absolute embarrassment, no doubt they will have to sign more Leinster players to fill their squad in the coming years.

It's not good enough really. The mood isn't really helped by the fact that their fans love a good rant on social media about selection bias. Creating the problem with a poor academy output and then blaming others for that is a bit ridiculous. You wonder where the accountability for this is within the IFRU, normally if you fund something you'd expect a return on investment.

Honest question, as often players don’t join an academy until U20s level or after.
How many of these under 20 players are currently in academies?
Might be a bit generous to talk up or down academies if many of the players have been developed by private investment into fee paying schools?

Edit: 2 of the 4 Munster players are in the academy.

While the players might not be academy members all of them are in the 'system'. Theres not a single member of an Ireland U20 squad that isn't involved in the subacademy system.

[mildlyinterested]

Gunne & Cawley at 9. I know Oliver was injured in warm up Interpros but didn’t think it was anything to be concerned about. Anyone know if it’s serious likely to affect remaining series? Great shout for Cawley

Oliver hasnt been training, ulster u20 scrumhalf James Wright has been in camp.

James Doyle also in camp.

[mildlyinterested]

All 5 Munster players came through their school systems, 2 from PBC, 1 from Rockwell, 1 Crescent and 1 from Castletroy.

Very happy to see Leinster have two club players in 23, and 1 to come back in when Andrew Osborne is back.

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland U20s:
15. James Nicholson (St. Michaels/Leinster)
14. Ike Anagu (South Africa)
13. Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Leinster)
12. John Devine (Ballinasloe/Connacht)
11. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
10. Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Leinster)
9. Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Leinster)

1. George Hadden (Gorey/Leinster)
2. Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/Leinster)(captain)
3. Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/Leinster)
4. Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/Leinster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (St. Michaels/Leinster)
6. James McNabney (Cambridge/Ulster)
7. Ruadhán Quinn (Crescent/Munster)
8. Brian Gleeson (Rockwell/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Danny Sheahan (PBC/Munster)
17. George Morris (Gonzaga/Leinster)
18. Fiachna Barrett (Ballina/Connacht)
19. Evan O’Connell (Castletroy/Munster)
20. Jacob Sheahan (PBC/Munster)
21. Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
22. Harry West (Ballina/Connacht)
23. Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Leinster).

[Flash Gordon]

I'd be happy with Connacht's representation in the 23 here, can't ask for much more. Ulster are an absolute embarrassment, no doubt they will have to sign more Leinster players to fill their squad in the coming years.

It's not good enough really. The mood isn't really helped by the fact that their fans love a good rant on social media about selection bias. Creating the problem with a poor academy output and then blaming others for that is a bit ridiculous. You wonder where the accountability for this is within the IFRU, normally if you fund something you'd expect a return on investment.

Honest question, as often players don’t join an academy until U20s level or after.
How many of these under 20 players are currently in academies?
Might be a bit generous to talk up or down academies if many of the players have been developed by private investment into fee paying schools?

Edit: 2 of the 4 Munster players are in the academy.

Everyone is in the system. They tend to be identified very early, watched, coached and developed. A big part of the Leinster systems is nurturing and development. I coached mini rugby in a Dublin club and Leinster were down helping the coaches build the blocks of development year after year. Talented kids were taken aside and given things to work on - though enjoyment and fun was a huge part of the nurturing piece. In my kids' school the Leinster coaches were down there too working with the coaches and players - Stuart Lancaster included. The system starts at 7 or 8, that's why it's such a competitive advantage it takes 10 years to replicate it.

That's great in terms of our competitiveness in Europe but the thing that bothers me is that player number sin Ulster aren't dissimilar and they have the same IRFU funding and supports so why is the return so incredibly poor?

[paddyor]

Apparently the former U20 captain Crothers won't be offered a contract by Ulster as he's too injury prone. Thats a shame, looked like they had a player there.

[Ruckedtobits]

Apparently the former U20 captain Crothers won't be offered a contract by Ulster as he's too injury prone. Thats a shame, looked like they had a player there.

Should be pointing the finger at S&C personnel, not the player.

[Morf]

Apparently the former U20 captain Crothers won't be offered a contract by Ulster as he's too injury prone. Thats a shame, looked like they had a player there.

Should be pointing the finger at S&C personnel, not the player.

I'm not sure what you think S&C entails but I suggest it may not be what you think it is.

[mildlyinterested]

rumoured that Anagu is out for Ireland u20, team in IT today:

IRELAND: H McErlean (Terenure/Leinster); H Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht), H Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster), J Devine (Corinthians/Connacht), J Nicholson (UCD/Leinster); S Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), F Gunne (Terenure/Leinster); G Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster), G McCarthy (UCD/Leinster, capt), P McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster); C O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster), D Mangan (UCD/Leinster); J McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster), R Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster), B Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster).

Replacements: D Sheahan (UCC/Munster), G Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster), F Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht), E O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster), J Sheahan (UCC/Munster), O Cawley (Naas/Leinster), H West (Buccaneers/Connacht), R Telfer (QUB/Ulster).