Ireland Under-20 2024 Team

My predicted Irish U20s team, based on who did and didn't play AIL this past weekend (I'm assuming guys who started in AIL aren't going to play v France U20s next weekend).

15-9,1-8:

Hugo McLaughlin, Ben O'Connor, Wilhelm de Klerk, Hugh Gavin, Ethan Graham, Jack Murphy, Oliver Coffey, Alex Usanov, Danny Sheahan, Andrew Sparrow, Evan O'Connell, Alan Spicer, Joe Hopes, Josh Stevens, Brian Gleeson.

Reps: Henry Walker, Ben Howard, Patreece Bell, Luke Murphy, Bryn Ward, Tadhg Brophy, Sean Naughton, Finn Treacy.

Some of the positional moves might be slightly different: Like O'Connor and McLaughlin might swap, and I'm not sure who is ahead at hooker - I gave the nod to Sheahan based on experience. I think having Hopes at blindside allows them to name two backrows on the bench.

Have no idea who's second choice at scrum half.

Guys like Sean Edogbo, Billy Corrigan, Rory Ellerby and Stephen Kiely all started in AIL last weekend, while Jacob Boyd and Stephen Smyth sat on the bench in AIL.

Other guys, who had been regular or recent AIL starters but look like likely starters for the Irish U20s like Andrew Sparrow, Alan Spicer, Josh Stevens, Bryn Ward, Luke Murphy, Oliver Coffey, Jack Murphy, Wilhelm de Klerk and Hugo McLaughlin all were absent from AIL this weekend, hence my prediction that they're in line to start v France.

Yeah, I would have always had both penciled in from a good bit out, but just made that pick above based on the fact that some guys who will definitely start were obviously pulled from AIL duty, so taking that readthrough across the whole squad, led me to conclude they're likelier to miss out.

From what I've heard - it looks likely that Joe Hopes will start at 6, and Edogbo doesn't really look like a 7. I've heard they're really high on Josh Stevens, who is supposed to be a good talent.

It could well be the case that Smyth, Boyd and Edogbo could feature this weekend, and it wouldn't wholly surprise me, but for now I think it'll be roughly the 23 I forecast.

Yeah, puzzled why they included 4 9's but only 3 second rows (4 including Hopes there).

Crazy to think guys as big as Alex Usanov and Alan Spicer are still only 18 years old as well.

Usanov is absolutely enormous, and has a frame where he looks like he can easily add more bulk. He has been pretty dynamic when I've seen him and shows up around the field looking for carries frequently. It also speaks well that he's featured a few times this year for Clontarf in AIL, which is pretty special IMO for a 18-year old prop.

Agreed - while the initial gap after Porter is bare atm (evidenced by 35-year old Cian Healy still being the second best option), Leinster would have sky high hopes at LHP for both Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy.

Have heard McCarthy has been focused on adding some kgs over recent months (he played the first four games of the season for Leinster, then hasn't played at any level effectively until last weekend for Trinity in AIL). Porter still has an awful lot of rugby in him as well, so this does likely point to Michael Milne being out the door this summer or Ed Byrne or both.

EDIT: On Spicer - he's obviously an enormous unit, but I would say I haven't been overly impressed with him yet on the 9-10 times I've seen him. His conditioning to me still leaves a bit to be desired, and trying to get him into situations where he can use his size is requiring a bit of thought. Obviously he's incredibly young, and they're doing everything they can to bring him along, but I'm not holding out hope that he'll be an enormous difference maker this 6N (hope I'm wrong on that).

Yeah - I did think that. He's a relatively recent convert to prop though altogether, so would be a longish road to make him switch but not impossible.

I'm equally not sold on Andrew Sparrow yet - he looks good but will need a big 6N I think to get an academy contract. It's a shame Adam Deay is injured at present as I think he would have been in contention for the 23 here.