10 Leinster players named to start for Ireland U-20 vs France U-20

Ireland opened their U20 Six Nations campaign with a bonus point win away in Wales last weekend, and return home to Cork on Friday night to face France for the Round 2 clash.

Murphy has made just one change in personnel to his starting XV for the game, with Henry McErlean coming in to start at fullback. The Terenure College RFC man made a big impact off the bench last week in the game vs Wales.

Hooker Gus McCarthy once again captains Ireland from the front row alongside George Hadden and Paddy McCarthy. Diarmuid Mangan and Conor O’Tighearnaigh continue their second row pairing, with James McNabney, Ruadhan Quinn and Brian Gleeson,who was last week’s Player of the Match, named in the back row.

McErlean comes into the back three alongside James Nicholson and Hugh Gavin, with Hugh Cooney and John Devine selected in the Ireland midfield. Fintan Gunne and Sam Prendergast are the half-backs.

Ireland U-20 v France U-20:

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).