A Waterford player is one of five debutants have been named in the Ireland Under-20 side to face Italy in today's final Pool B game at the World Championship in Santa Fe (kick-off 2.30pm Irish time — live on eir Sport 1).
Munster Academy lock Thomas Ahern - 6ft 7in former Youghal, Dungarvan and Waterpark youths player - only switched from the back-line to the second row in early 2017. He gets his chance after being a water carrier and an unused replacement for Ireland’s first two games at the tournament.
Ahern forms a new lock pairing with Ryan Baird, who was cleared to play by an independent World Rugby disciplinary committee following his red card against Australia.
Baird’s availability offers a timely boost as injury-ravaged Ireland look to bounce back from that crushing 45-17 defeat to Australia, which leaves them with only a very slim chance of making the semi-finals as the best-placed runners-up.
As well as racking up a big score against Italy, they will need other results to go their way.
Mindful of how tough Italy can be as opponents, especially after they lost by just a single point to England, head coach Noel McNamara said:
“Italy are a very good side and they showed that against England on Saturday. They have been consistently competitive at this tournament over the last number of years. The players are excited about the opportunity to get back out to play, and the focus is entirely on delivering a performance."
Ireland have won two of their three previous World U-20 Championship meetings with Italy — in Wales in 2008 (9-6) and South Africa in 2012 (41-12) — but suffered a 22-21 pool loss to the Azzurrini during the 2017 tournament in Georgia. McNamara’s youngsters scored four tries and won 34-14 in Rieti during this year’s Six Nations.
