All roads lead to Northampton tonight for England Vs Ireland in the U20 Six Nations with Ireland hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the tournament.
Noel McNamara's side are top of the table after two games following impressive wins over both Scotland and Wales at Irish Independent Park in Cork. However, England also boasts a flawless record having overcome France and Scotland ahead of this evening's clash on home soil.
When these two teams met in the opening round of last year's competition, Ireland won in chaotic fashion ahead of going on to win the tournament. But England will be up for tonight's challenge considering they have the luxury of home advantage at Franklin's Gardens where they will be hoping to feed off the energy of a boisterous home crowd.
Following the win over Wales in Round 2 of the competition, the Irish head coach has made four changes to his team with both Ethan McIlroy and Hayden Hyde returning to the starting XV. John McKee and Alex Soroko also come into the side to make their first starts of the tournament.
The Ireland team for tonight's game is as follows:
15. Oran McNulty (Millfield School/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
14. Ethan McIlroy (Methody College/Queens University RFC/Ulster)
13. Dan Kelly (Kirkham Grammar/Loughborough University/IQ Rugby)
12. Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
11. Andrew Smith (St. Michael’s College/Clontarf FC/Leinster)
10. Jack Crowley (Bandon RFC/Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
9. Lewis Finlay (Down High School/Malone RFC/Ulster)
1. Marcus Hanan (Clane RFC/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
2. John McKee (Campbell College/Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster)
4. Thomas Ahern (Waterpark RFC/Shannon RFC/Munster)
5. Brian Deeny (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster)
6. Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Dublin University FC/Leinster)
7. Sean O’Brien (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
8. David McCann (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster) (captain)
Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
17. Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
18. Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC/Clontarf FC/Leinster)
19. Joe McCarthy (Blackrock College/Dublin University FC/Leinster)
20. Cian Prendergast (Newbridge College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
21. Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Clontarf FC/Leinster)
22. Tim Corkery (Kilkenny RFC/Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
23. Max O’Reilly (St Gerard’s School/Dublin University FC/Leinster)
