Ireland U20s make two changes for Italy clash
Ireland opened their campaign with a 35-28 win over Georgia, and scrum-half Will Wootton and prop Alex Usanov will both come into the side for Friday's clash with the hosts.
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Charlie Molony, Paidi Farrell and Derry Moloney continue in Ireland's back three, with Eoghan Smyth and Ciarán Mangan named in the centre positions.
Wootton starts at scrum-half as Tom Wood continues at out-half.
Usanov joins the front row alongside Henry Walker and Alex Mullan.
Mahon Ronan and Billy Corrigan are in the second row, while Eanna McCarthy captains the team from the back row, where he is joined by Luke Murphy and Michael Foy.
Mikey Yarr, Billy Bohan, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennelly and Bobby Power are the replacement forwards, with backs Clark Logan, Sam Wisniewski and Daniel Green completing the 23.
Ireland:
15. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Paidi Farrell (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
13. Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
11. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
1. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2. Henry Walker (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
4. Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
5. Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
6. Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster)
7. Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) – capt
8. Luke Murphy (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
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Ireland continued to attack and Prendergast came close to adding a third try. After Ireland turned the ball over at the scrum they moved the ball left to right. Jimmy O'Brien stepped a defender but his pass dropped short. Tommy O'Brien reacted well to flick the ball to Prendergast, who had the corner in his sights. The out-half dove for the corner and got the ball down, but a TMO review confirmed his foot was in touch. Advertisement The game grew increasingly scrappy as Ireland began to have real problems against a powerful Georgia scrum, conceding another penalty at the setpiece which came shortly after McCarthy was pinged for a crooked throw at the lineout. Minutes later the packs scrummed down again but Ireland engaged too early, the outcome penalty Georgia. Towards the end of the half O'Connell was forced to make an early change, Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale, who had looked sharp in possession, leaving the action with an arm/shoulder injury as Calvin Nash came on. Ireland's problems piled up with a dominant Georgia scrum getting another big shove to win a penalty, without taking advantage in the Ireland half. A trip to the Georgia 22 brought more sloppy play. From a lineout Ireland attacked but looked slow and one-dimensional, with Georgia turning the ball over after Stuart McCloskey carried into contact. Ireland's Darragh Murray tackled by Georgia's Vano Karkadze. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Georgia finally got on the scoreboard with the final play of the half. The home side won a penalty and went for the corner through a good kick from out-half Luka Matkava. Flanker Beka Saginadze claimed the lineout throw at the tail and Georgia mauled, winning a penalty courtesy of Baird. This time Georgia threw to the middle and smartly popped the ball back to the front, allowing number eight Tornike Jalagonia rumble over through Gavin Coombes. The hosts couldn't convert but had cut Ireland's lead to nine points at the break. It would be their only score of the game. Ireland made another quick start to the second half, scoring a blistering try after the restart. After Georgia couldn't reclaim possession from a kick, Coombes came away with possession and passed wide to his Munster teammate Calvin Nash. Nash broke with pace down the wing and played the ball inside to Baird, who added ground and was patient under pressure before offloading to Casey, the scrum-half running through unchallenged. Prendergast converted and Ireland looked in full control again. Prendergast followed with a penalty, Ireland clocking up 10 points in the opening five minutes of the second half. Craig Casey celebrates his try. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Georgia tried to find a way back as Karkadze burst through a maul, but he lost the ball forward under great pressure from Coombes. With both sides struggling to piece any meaningful passages of play together, around the hour mark a penalty allowed Prendergast go for the posts to extend Ireland's lead. Ireland's fourth try arrived in the 70th minute, Timoney registering his fourth try across four caps. After Ireland moved the ball across the Georgia defence without breaking through, despite excellent play from the two O'Briens, Prendergast kicked wide to Timoney, who impressively muscled between two defenders and got the ball down. Prendergast again nailed the conversion, the kick his last action of the night as Jack Crowley came in for the final 10 minutes. In the closing minutes McCloskey was yellow-carded for not retreating, but Georgia's final attack was quashed through a big turnover from Max Deegan. Ireland's summer tour continues against Portugal in Lisbon next Saturday, where O'Connell will hope to see a more cohesive team performance. Georgia scorers: Try – Jalagonia Conversion – Matkava [0/1] Ireland scorers: Tries – O'Brien [2], Casey, Timoney Penalties – Prendergast [2/2] Conversions – Prendergast [4/4] GEORGIA: Davit Niniashvili; Aka Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze (Tornike Kakhoidze, 61), Giorgi Kveseladze, Sandro Todua; Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Giorgi Akhaladze (Giorgi Tetrashvili, 54), Vano Karkadze (Irakli Kvatadze, 54), Irakli Aptsiauri (Beka Gigashvili, 54); Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze; Luka Ivanishvili (Guram Ganiashvil, 78), Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia (Ilia Spanderashvili, 54). IRELAND: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale (Calvin Nash, 37); Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jack Boyle (Michael Milne, 59), Gus McCarthy (Tom Stewart, 59), Thomas Clarkson (Jack Aungier, 69); Cormac Izuchukwu, Darragh Murray; Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes (Max Deegan, 65). Yellow card: McCloskey, 77. Referee: Andrea Piardi.
