It's not the match they were hoping to be playing in but Ireland U20s have the chance to secure a 3rd place finish at this years World Championship when they take on New Zealand on Friday afternoon.
Ireland suffered a disappointing 31-20 semi-final defeat to England in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon while New Zealand had a crushing 55-31 defeat to France.
These two have met eight times at this level, with New Zealand winning seven of those encounters. It will be the second time they have met in the third place play-off with their last meeting in 2014.
SEE ALSO: Five Biggest Winners From Ireland's Dramatic Test Series In South Africa
When And Where Is Ireland U20s Vs New Zealand Taking Place?
The match will take place on Friday 19th July at 3:30pm Irish time from the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.
How To Watch Ireland U20s Vs New Zealand
The game isn't available to watch on television but you can catch a livestream of the game on RugbyPass TV. It's free to watch, all you have to do is create an account.
Team News
Head Coach Willie Faloon has named the Ireland Men’s U20s Match Day Squad for Friday’s World Rugby U20 Championship third place play-off against New Zealand in Cape Town.
Five changes have been made from the side that lost their semi final to England.
Ben O’Connor, Davy Colbert and Hugo McLaughlin are named in the Ireland back three, with Finn Treacy joining Hugh Gavin in midfield, and Oliver Coffey and Jack Murphy once again lining up in the half-backs.
In the pack, Emmet Calvey, Stephen Smyth and Alex Mullan start in the front row, with Alan Spicer and Luke Murphy in the second row.
James McKillop is at blindside flanker, Bryn Ward at openside and captain Gleeson completes the starting XV at number eight.
Faloon has strong options on the bench with Mikey Yarr, Ben Howard, Andrew Sparrow, Billy Corrigan and Max Flynn providing the reinforcements up front, as Jake O’Riordan, Sean Naughton and Ethan Graham complete the Ireland Match Day 23.
The Ireland Men's U20s team to face New Zealand in Friday's World Rugby U20 Championship third place play-off! 🟢#FutureIsGreen
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) July 17, 2024
New Zealand head Coach Jobo Gibbes has made a number of changes to his playing squad ahead of the 3rd place match with Ireland.
Captain Vernon Bason anchors the scrum from hooker and will be joined by Josh Smith and Senio Sanele in the front row, the latter in his second start of the tournament.
Tom Allen starts again at lock, one of only two players to start every match, and he pairs with Cam Christie, while Andrew Smith, Matt Lowe and Johnny Lee round out the forward pack.
Dylan Pledger will link with Cooper Grant in the halves for the first time this tournament, while vice captain Xavi Taele confirms his fifth start at second five-eighths. He pairs with Aki Tuilailala in the midfield with Sam Coles, Frank Veanuku and King Maxwell are the starting back three.
