'Cohesion' key for Under-20s against experienced France, says Iain Henderson

Iain Henderson reckons the unity of the Ireland squad can nullify much of the France threat when the sides meet in the World Rugby U20 Championship final tomorrow.

Sébastien Calvet’s side have seen off all comers in the tournament so far, winning four from four.

England and New Zealand have come closest to France, both losing their games by 21 points.

Ireland, under head coach Richie Murphy, opened with a draw against England but battled through thanks to character-filled wins over Australia, Fiji and South Africa and are underdogs for the match-up at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town (6pm Irish time).

In addition, 11 of the French starting XV tomorrow played in the Top14, Champions and Challenge Cup last season.

Second row Posolo Tuilagi, for example, has played 16 times for Perpignan this season across the Challenge Cup and Top 14.

Of Ireland's starting team, only Sam Prendergast (two games), Conor O'Tighearnaigh (one game), both Leinster, and Munster's Ruadhan Quinn (three games) have played senior for their clubs.

But Henderson, who is currently in the Ireland squad preparing for three World Cup warm-up games next month, says the Six Nations champions, who beat a less experienced France side 33-31 in the spring, shouldn't be overawed.

Seven of the France team for Friday's game started in the Six Nations loss.

The 31-year-old Ulster lock, speaking at a Canterbury event to launch Ireland's Rugby World Cup jersey, recalled his time at that age grade.

He said: "My first year at 20s, drawing back on my experience, our backline was close to an entire Magners League backline.

"We had Kiernan Marmion, Jacko [Paddy Jackson], [Andrew] Conway, [Brendan] Macken, Craig Gilroy, we had an incredible backline and that team was much less