Munster Rugby players help Ireland U20s ease past Italy

SEVERAL Munster players impressed as the Ireland U20s secured a hard-earned 35-29 victory over Italy in a challenge match at the UCD Bowl.

Limerick second-row Evan O'Connell, in his second year featuring for the Ireland U20 side, turned in a powerhouse display in the engine room. Former Castletroy College student O'Connell, who plays his club rugby with UL-Bohemian, is a member of the Munster Rugby Academy.

Ireland's starting team also included hooker Munster hooker Danny Sheahan, while Sean Edogbo, of Munster, was introduced as a replacement.

Four players who featured in last season’s Grand Slam success and the World Championship silver medal-winning run were part of Friday's starting XV – the Munster duo of O'Connell and Sheahan as well as recent Ulster debutant Joe Hopes at blindside flanker, and Hugh Gavin, the team captain, in midfield.

Wingers Finn Treacy and Ethan Graham were amongst the try scorers for the Ireland U-20s . Centres Hugh Gavin and Wilhelm de Klerk also touched down, and number 8 Bryn Ward was the only forward to cross the whitewash.

The Italians, who trailed 35-17 at half-time, put in a valiant effort, winning the second half battle. There was a try apiece from Lorenzo Casilio, Piero Gritti, captain Jacopo Botturi, and Marco Scalabrin.

Following a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre, Murphy brought together a squad of 26 players to take on their Italian counterparts as preparations step up for the fast-approaching 2024 Under-20 Six Nations campaign.

The Ireland U-20s continue their warm-up fixtures against the Munster Development team at Musgrave Park on Friday, December 29 (kick-off 1pm), before facing the Leinster Development side at Energia Park the following Friday (kick-off 2pm).

Richie Murphy’s charges kick off the U-20 Six Nations against France in Aix-en-Provence on Saturday, February 3. Their opening home match of the Championship is against Italy at Musgrave Park the following Friday. 

IRELAND U-20: Tom Larke (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster); Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster), Ethan Graham (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Andrew Sparrow (UCD RFC/Leinster), Mikey O’Reilly (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Max Flynn (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster). Replacements: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Flynn Longstaff (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Jules Fenelon (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Richard Whelan (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Luke Kritzinger (UCD RFC/Leinster).

ITALY U-20: Mirko Belloni (Verona Rugby); Marco Scalabrin (Rugby Vicenza), Lorenzo Elettri (Rugby Rovigo Delta), Lorenzo Nanni (Rugby Oyonnax), Francesco Bini (Rugby Rovigo Delta); Martino Pucciariello (CUS Milano Rugby), Lorenzo Casilio (Rugby Vicenza); Federico Pisani (Verona Rugby), Valerio Siciliano (CA Brive Rugby), Davide Ascari (Rugby Colorno 1975), Tommaso Redondi (Verona Rugby), Piero Gritti (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Luca Bellucci (Rugby Roma Olimpic), Cesare Zucconi (Cavalieri U.R. Prato Sesto), Jacopo Botturi (Petrarca Rugby) (capt). Replacements: Vittorio Padoan (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Nicholas Gasperini (Rugby Viadana 1970), Sergio Pellicioli (Rugby Lyons), Marcos Gallorini (Mogliano Veneto Rugby), Andrea Toninelli (Rugby Parabiago), Mattia Jimenez (Petrarca Rugby), Giovanni Cinquegrani (Rugby Paese), Patrick De Villiers (Rugby Noceto FC), Olmo D’Alessandro (Biarritz Olympique), Luca Belloni (Verona Rugby), Francesco Imberti (CUS Torino).

REFEREE: Joy Neville (IRFU)