Title permutations in background as Ireland U20s target Grand Slam

Ireland have a straightforward task when they host England on Saturday looking for the Grand Slam but the U20s have a few more considerations in their clean sweep bid.

Richie Murphy's side have accumulated 19 points from their four victories so far meaning that both England, Sunday's visitors to a sold-out Musgrave Park, and France, home to Wales, are still in the title hunt.

Les Bleus take on Wales after the Ireland match (5pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player) and depending on the outcome in Cork, could nick the title with a win

"We're really focusing on going for the Grand Slam, it's a huge opportunity," captain Gus McCarthy tells RTÉ Sport as Ireland bid to emulate the classes of 2007, 2019 and 2022.

"I know last year's team did that but it's not something that comes around that often.

"It's a huge opportunity for the squad to really stamp their name in history and the coaches have laid that out for us.

"We're not really looking to go for a draw and still win the championship. We really are going for the Grand Slam."

That desire to make it back-to-back Grand Slams for the U20s doesn't mean that they will allow emotion to get the better of them and the coaching staff are ready to deal with any such scenario, such as a three-point draw to put France out of contention, that crops up.

"Richie mentioned it at one of our meetings," said scrum and contact coach Aaron Dundon, "but his main thing is not to think about points and all that sort of stuff.

"We just have to go out and win the game and do what we're doing, putting a performance together.

"Obviously England still have a chance to win it and so do France, for us it's just making sure we perform on the day and it will take care of itself."

The squad and management will stay in camp