Ireland U20 continued their build up to the 2021 Six Nations with a hit out against Munster A at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Friday afternoon with the provincial side winning 19 – 36 in a physical game.

With the likes of Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash, Jake Flannery, Liam Coombes, Diarmuid Barron, Thomas Ahern, Ben Healy, Sean French and Jack O’Sullivan, Munster featured quite a few former Ireland U20 players, who have graduated to senior rugby, and their experience saw the provincial side outscore Ireland by five tries to three.

Two tries for Alex McHenry and one from Keynan Knox, all converted by Flannery, gave Munster A a 21-12 half-time lead.

Josh Wycherley and Rhys Marshall touched down after the break with Healy adding both conversions.

Ireland’s tries came from Jack Kelleher and Chay Mullins, who crossed in the first half with Nathan Doak converting one. Donnacha Byrne crossed for a converted try in the second half.

There’s not much else we can tell you at the minute but with the U20 Six Nations kicking off on 19th June we should find out soon enough which Ulster players are going to be involved.

IRELAND U20: Jamie Osborne, Conor Rankin, Shane Jennings, Cathal Forde, Chay Mullins, James Humphreys, Nathan Doak, George Saunderson, Ronan Loughnane, Mark Donnelly, Mark Morrissey, Harry Sheridan, Jack Kelleher, Oisin McCormack, Alex Kendellen. Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Temi Lasisi, Sam Illo, Diarmuid McCormack, Reuben Crothers, Ben Murphy, Tim Corkery, Josh O’Connor, Donnacha Byrne, Ben Carson, Chris Cosgrave.

MUNSTER A: Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash, Dan Goggin, Alex McHenry, Liam Coombes, Jake Flannery, Paddy Patterson, Liam O’Connor, Diarmuid Barron (C), Keynan Knox, Fearghail O’Donoghue, Thomas Ahern; Jack Daly, Daniel Okeke, Jack O’Sullivan. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Josh Wycherley, Jeremy Loughman, Conor Moloney, Dylan Murphy, Ethan Coughlan, Ben Healy, Aaron Leahy, Alan Flannery, Seán French, Jamie Shanahan.

2021 U20 Six Nations

The 2021 U20 Six Nations will be played in it’s entirety at Cardiff Arms Park. Ireland’s fixtures are as follows.

As for the nine Ulster players involved over the two warm up games, I would guess that Nathan Doak is a shoo-in for inclusion with Harry Sheridan, James Humphreys, Conor Rankin and George Saunderson also likely to play key roles.

Ben Carson and Reuben Crothers were involved in both squads and should be there or thereabouts with Carson likely to make a big impression if he gets an extended run.

Conor McKee and Oscar Egan, who missed out on the second game, are going to have a nervous wait but there is a fair chance they will see some involvement in what is likely to be an abrasive tournament.