Jack O’Donoghue and Irish pack aim for repeat performance against Wales

Cian Kelleher is only change to team that beat Scotland in opening game


Two try Jack O'Donoghue will hope to repeat last week's super start to the Under 20s Six Nations Championship.

The Irish side under Mike Ruddock played the perfect forward-oriented game last week in monsoon like conditions and may need to do the same today if the grim weather forecast is accurate.

Ruddock makes just one change to the side that defeated Scotland in the opening match, bringing in Cian Kelleher to the wing in place of Adam Byrne.

But he keeps faith with the pack that will meet a traditionally physical Welsh side in soft conditions.

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Wales earned a 26-9 win over Italy in the first match and are looking to avenge last year's heartbreak that saw them lose out on the grand slam with defeat to England in their final game. Coach Andy Hayward has made five changes and two positional for his side's trip to Athlone.
IRELAND: D Busby (Ulster); C Kelleher (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), P Robb (Ulster), I Fitzpatrick (Leinster); R Byrne (Leinster), N McCarthy (Leinster); P Dooney (Leinster), M Abbott (Munster), R Burke (Munster), S O'Brien (Connacht), R Molony (Leinster), P Timmons (Leinster), D Leavy (Leinster, c), J O'Donoghue (Munster). Replacements: S McNulty (Munster), D Coulson (Leinster), O Heffernan (Leinster), J Joyce (Exiles), F Taggart (Ulster), J Cullen (Munster), C McKeon (Leinster), D Goggin (Munster).
WALES: A Bagshaw; A Hewitt, S Hughes, G Smith, J Adams; E Davies, T Williams; N Smith, E Lewis, N Thomas, S Andrews, J Sheeky, W Boyde, J Benjamin, B Roach. Replacements: S Otten, L Garrett, C Lewis, R Thornton, O Griffiths, C Lloyd, L Price, T Morgan.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times