Ireland squad have a need to front up

RUGBY UNDER-20:IRELAND UNDER-20 coach Mike Ruddock will have a talented squad at his disposal for the IRB Junior World Championships which take place in Italy next month. The one issue, as was clearly evidenced in the Under-20 Six Nations Championship, is that Ireland lack the bulk of the England and France packs.

Reigning champions New Zealand, Australia and South Africa will be no less impressive physically, and it is Ireland’s misfortune to be included in a pool that contains England, Scotland and South Africa.

The English won a Grand Slam in the underage Six Nations earlier this year, including a thumping 46-15 victory over Ireland at Dubarry Park in Athlone. The final margin flattered against an under-strength Ireland side, but there was no mistaking the discrepancy in physique.

Ireland boast some excellent athletes up front, led by hooker and captain Niall Annett, but they’ll have to work hard to secure set-piece ball against the Springboks and England.

If they establish a platform, then they certainly possess the backs to exploit it.

Craig Gilroy, Ulster’s top try-scorer in the Magners League, is likely to be the first choice fullback, while Ruddock will be able to choose from a three-quarter line that includes the latent ability of Andrew Conway, Brendan Macken, Andrew Boyle, Luke Marshall, Alex Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Tiernan O’Halloran.

Ulster’s Paddy Jackson was first-choice outhalf during the Six Nations and has played at senior level for his province.

Two players have been included in the squad who were not involved in the tournament, Trinity’s Dominic Gallagher and Exiles scrumhalf Kieran Marmion. Eight played in the Junior World Championships last year: Annett, Conway, Macken, O’Halloran, Boyle, hooker David Doyle, flanker Jordi Murphy and outhalf James McKinney.

As a result of Magners League commitments the Irish side was rarely at full strength during the Six Nations but did manage wins over Italy 28-9 and pool opponents Scotland 15-0, while eking out a 26-26 draw with Wales; all three matches were away from home.

Ireland will open their campaign against the English at the Stadio Communale di Monigo on June 10th, and play in the same venue four days later against South Africa. Their final pool match, against the Scots, will take place in Rovigo.

The side’s best performance in the tournament was in 2004 – it was Under-21 in those days – when a squad containing Jamie Heaslip, Tommy Bowe and Tomás O’Leary lost to New Zealand in the final.

Rocky Elsom may have played his last game for the Brumbies after he was ruled out for the rest of the Super 15 season with an ankle injury. The Australia captain and former Leinster flanker will miss the Brumbies’ last four games after being sidelined for four to six weeks with a syndesmosis injury picked up against Western Force last weekend.

Elsom’s contract is up at the end of the season and he is expected to leave the ACT franchise. He had only just returned to action following a six-month lay-off with a hamstring injury.

Brumbies head coach Tony Rea admitted: “He just needs to get himself ready for the World Cup now. It’s just disappointing for him; he’s worked so hard to get back and he only got himself back for one (match).”

Elsom has said his first port of call in terms of deciding on his future will be with the Australian Rugby Union.