Five Munster players in under-20s squad for French game

by Luke Lyons

FIVE Munster players, two in the starting line-up and three on the bench, have been included in the Irish U20 squad to face France tonight at Cork’s Musgrave Park (kick-off 8pm).

Hoping to maintain the winning streak after their opening bonus-point 44-27 victory over Wales last weekend, Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent) and Brian Gleeson (Garryowen) will be part of Richie Murphy Murphy’s starting fifteen.

Danny Sheahan (UCC), Jacob Sheehan (UCC), and Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians) have been named as replacements.

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This will be the second Irish outing on the hop for Old Crescent’s Ruadhán Quinn, who will be looking to follow up on his season-opening score against Wales in Colwyn Bay.

Starting beside his Munster teammate at number eight will be last weekend’s Player of the Match Brian Gleeson.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, Head Coach Richie Murphy said: “We were pleased to open the Six Nations with a bonus point win away from home, but we know there are areas of improvement for us heading into Friday night.”

“We have put the head down in Cork this week and are hugely excited to get back to Musgrave Park and play in front of another big home crowd.”

The Irish side may be coming in confident against a French side who just walked away from their narrow 28-27 victory over Italy.

The boys in green will line out in front of a sold-out capacity 8,000 crowd tonight in the hopes of remaining top of the table for another week.

The game will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 from 7pm.

Ireland U20s:

15. Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
14. James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
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. Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster).