Our picks for 2020 World Rugby Under 20 Championship

I was looking forward to this competition all season, there is really nothing better than a major rugby competition in northern Italy.

However it must be double disappointing for this group of talented youngsters who would have been looking on improving on Ireland’s finishes in recent years.

Year	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
Finish	9	8	9	8	5	8	4	7	2	9	11	8

A second place finish in 2016 in Manchester is Ireland’s best result by some margin but since then Ireland have struggled to compete. Last season’s Grand Slam winning team produced the best result in recent years with an 8th place finish.

It’s a 28 player squad for the World Championships and it’s hard to look beyond the 29 used in the three matches played over the Six Nations. Historically there have been a few bolters brought in and I think there are another couple of Ulster lads who might have got the nod.

You can view the individual stats of the Six Nations squads below. (Just click on the table to expand it.)

Our squad.

Front Row.

It’s hard to look beyond Charlie Ward and Tom Clarkson as the starting props with Marcus Hanan and Ryan McMahon as backups. There may be room for a prop who can play either side and if this is the case McMahon would probably be the one to miss out but I’m happy with my original selection despite MCMahons limited game time.

Hooker is straight forward with Tom Stewart and John McKee the outstanding candidates. Stewart looked to have the nod until he blotted his copybook with 5 turnovers conceded against Wales and McKee took full advantage with a virtuoso tacking display in his start against England. In fairness Stewart came bouncing back when he got on in the second half and that might be the optimum set up with McKee starting and Stewart wrecking absolute havoc in the final 30.

Second Row

Thomas Ahearn and Brian Deeny with Joe McCarthy as back up is hard to look beyond so I wont.

Back Row

Sean O’Brien and David McCann are absolute guarantees and a fit Mark Hernan completes the back row. Replacements are between Cian Prendergast and Alex Soroka with Soroka likely to get the nod.

Half Backs

Lewis Finley and Jack Crowley write their own tickets but they will be put under pressure by our first bolter in Nathan Doak who can cover both positions and has the experience of the Celtic Cup.

Centres

Dan Kelly seems the lockdown for outside centre though his recent signing with Leicester Tigers may have seen him discarded. Hayden Hyde was the favoured inside centre and if fit he would have travelled.

I’d introduce another bolter here with Ben Carson being an ideal replacement for Kelly though Luis Faria would probably start alongside Hyde initially.

Back Three

It would have been a wonderful tournament for Ethan McIlroy who would travel with obvious picks Andrew Smith and Oran McNulty as the first choice back three with Max O’Reilly as cover.

That gives us 23 players with the other likely travellers Ciaran Ryan and Prendergast with possibly AN Other back row/second row cover. However I’ll go with three more backs and that leaves three from Ben Moxham, Ben Murphy, Tim Corkery and Conor Rankin

I’d go with Ben Moxham as cover for centre as well as the back three and Tim Corkery gets the nod as well as he offers so many options. Conor Rankin has had a drop off in form since mid way through the Celtic Cup and subsequently struggled at Ballynahinch but he’s such an exciting player I’d definaely have him on board.

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