Murphy names Ireland U-20s XV ahead of Grand Slam mission

Head Coach Richie Murphy has named his starting XV for the Ireland Under-20s' Grand Slam showdown with England at a sold-out Musgrave Park on Sunday evening.

Murphy's men could complete an Irish Slam double in Cork if Andy Farrell's seniors do the business against the English at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

It would be a second Grand Slam in a row for the U-20s after last year's success.

Gus McCarthy captains the team from the front row, with George Hadden and Paddy McCarthy also named to start.

Diarmuid Mangan and the ever-present Conor O'Tighearnaigh are in the engine room, with James McNabney, Ruadhan Quinn and Brian Gleeson continuing in the back row.

Fintan Gunne and Sam Prendergast once again start at scrum-half and out-half respectively, with John Devine and Hugh Cooney in midfield.

The back three of Henry McErlean, James Nicholson and Hugh Gavin complete the starting lineup.

Ireland: Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster), James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster), Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster), John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster); George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster), Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster, captain), Paddy McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster), Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster), James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster), Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Replacements: Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster), George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster), Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster), Liam Molony (Dublin University/Leinster), Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster), Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht), Andrew Osborne (Naas/Leinster)

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