The Ireland team shows three changes and a positional switch from that beaten by Wales for Friday night's Under-20 Six Nations Championship clash with France in Narbonne.
Fullback Jack Power and openside flanker Will Connors are absent with respective shoulder injuries and are replaced by Conor O’Brien – he comes in on the left wing with Hugo Keen switching to fullback – and Dan Walsh, the latter making his debut.
The other alteration is on the frontrow where Conor Kenny replaces Conan O'Donnell, who drops to the bench. Ulster pair Sam Arnold and Jacob Stockdale are not available to the age-grade side because of provincial commitments.
Ireland under-20 assistant coach Peter Malone explained: “Jack Power is injured. It is relatively short term, two to three weeks. We think he will probably come back in the frame for the England game. We are hopeful that Will Connors will be the same [time frame].
"Dan Walsh comes in as a straight swap at seven (Connors). He has played very well for Munster 20s in September and played very well for Cork Con 20s and senior team. He did well in the trials.
“Kelvin (Browne) had a super game [when he came on twice against Wales], made a big impact, but we probably see him more as a six or an eight. We want guys to put pressure on the breakdown and have a specialist seven in that position. It is more horses for courses than form.”
Malone added: “Conor (O’Brien) played on the wing in the All-Ireland final for Clontarf last season and made a good impact when he came on. He can cover 13 and wing.
“Hugo (Keen) and Mattie (Byrne) can cover fullback, so we just thought we would bring Conor in and make the one change.”
IRELAND UNDER-20: H Keenan (Leinster); M Byrne (Leinster), S Daly (Munster), J O'Brien (Leinster), C O'Brien (Leinster); J McPhillips (Ulster), J Poland (Munster); A Porter (Leinster), A McBurney (Ulster), C Kenny (Connacht); P Claffey (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster, capt); C Gallagher (Connacht), D Walsh (Munster), M Deegan (Leinster). Replacements: S Fenton (Munster), J Bollard (Leinster), C O'Donnell (Connacht), S O'Connor (Munster), K Brown (Munster), S Kerins (Connacht), B Connon (Newcastle Falcons), T Kennedy (Leinster).
