The traditional integrated training session between the senior Ireland squad and Ireland U20s took place last week, and as per usual provided invaluable experience for the younger generation, while giving the older fellas valuable information on who may have a chance to take their jersey in the coming seasons.
Ireland U20s and Ulster scrum coach Aaron Dundon spoke highly of the session ahead of his side's Friday night Six Nations clash against possibly the best Italian U20s side the country has produced.
It was awesome “Friday was 15 v 15. We had our attack, they had their attack so we got defence sets and attack sets, lineouts, maul. We mixed up the players for the scrums so it was half seniors and half 20s guys.
So, they can get some feedback from those senior guys and that’s stuff that we can’t coach. In fairness to the senior players and coaches, they were so willing with their time and they gave some awesome feedback to the players.
Aaron Dundon Enjoying His Time Working the Ireland U20s
30 April 2022; Leinster elite player development officer Aaron Dundon during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Balls.ie's Greatest Ireland U20s XV Of All-Time
Dundon also discussed the coaching staff, including Richie Murphy and Johnny Sexton's brother Mark, whom he knew before joining the set up.
"A really good bunch of lads to work with and a really good coaching staff. Richie coached me back when I played with Leinster and I played against Mark Sexton (backs and skills coach) a good few times when he was with St Mary’s, so I know the boys well. We get on well.”
"We were disappointed with our first-half performance against the Welsh," continued Dundon when asked about Ireland's opening two fixtures, which saw them defeat Wales and France in consecutive weeks.
"In fairness, they played quite well but we were very nervous and it took us until the second-half to settle down and start playing how we wanted.
"That led into the start of the French game. I thought we played really well in that first-half but we left a good few points out there and let the French come back at us. They put a lot of pressure on us in the second-half and they made it a lot tighter finish."
Ireland U20s squad vs Italy U20s at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo (kick-off 7.15pm - live on RTE)
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).
SEE ALSO: Ireland U20s Remain Completely Unchanged For Friday's Italy Clash
