Clarke looking forward to 'huge test'

Ireland U-20 v France U-20:ALLEN CLARKE takes over the coaching baton from Eric Elwood, hoping to guide his charges to a victorious start in the Under-20 Six Nations Championship. Emulating the 2007 Grand Slam-winning team would represent the pinnacle of achievement over the next two months but Ireland are more likely to concern themselves with more realistic goals this evening.

Beating France would generate a huge momentum for this young side at a venue that has come to be the spiritual, as well as physical, home for this particular age-group over the past couple of seasons. Athlone’s Dubarry Park has provided a noisy and enthusiastic backdrop to several fine Irish performances, a state of affairs not lost on Clarke.

“Playing in front of a home crowd at Dubarry Park is a big plus for us. I know from being a spectator last season the atmosphere created by the home support is an inspiration to the team,” said Clarke.

“I am very pleased with the standards set on and off the field and the reality now is to produce an accurate performance on Friday night. France will be a huge test but one the players are looking forward to.”

The French squad contains three players who were in Heineken Cup squads, Biarritz centre Laurent Trainier, Toulouse outhalf Nicolas Bezy and Clermont Auvergne backrow Alexandre Lapandry, who will captain the visitors.

The Ireland team has plenty of potential with players like David Kearney – Rob’s younger brother – – and Michael Keating on the wings, scrumhalf Conor Murray and 6ft 4in centre Eamonn Sheridan. Up front Mike Ruddock’s sons, Ciarán and Rhys, are joined in the back five by Mark Flanagan, Dominic Ryan and team captain Peter O’Mahony.

The primary hope for the coaching staff and home supporters is that Ireland will produce a performance that illustrates that quality.

IRELAND: I Madigan (Blackrock); D Kearney (Lansdowne), I McKinley (UCD), E Sheridan (Lansdowne), M Keating (Clontarf); A Burke (Garryowen), C Murray (Garryowen); J McGrath (St Mary’s), T Sexton (Old Belvedere), J O’Connell (Lansdowne); C Ruddock (Neath), M Flanagan (UCD); R Ruddock (Neath), D Ryan (Lansdowne), P O’Mahony (Cork Constitution). Replacements: D McGregor (Ballynahinch), P McAllister (Ballynahinch), J Sandford (Queens University), M Noone (Seapoint Lansdowne), J Cooney (UCD), G Foley (Blackrock), M Doyle (UL Bohemians).

FRANCE (from): T Dubois (Colomiers), T Lebrequier (Biarritz), R Slimani (Stade Francais), JC Orioli (Toulon), V Colliat (Lyon), M De Marco (Montpellier), R Boukerou (Toulouse), V Mutel (Pau), L Goujon (Montferrand), A Lapandry (Montferrand, capt), J Guillot (Bourgoin), B Guyot (Stade Francais), F Cazenave (Perpignan), N Bezy (Toulouse), P Bernard (Bayonne), R Lombard (Chalon), G Namy (Brive), L Trainier (Biarritz), G Doumayrou (Montpellier), N Vaysse (Toulouse), J Sinzelle (Toulon), S Guitoune (Agen).