Time for Irish to realise potential

Under-21 International Preview: Ireland coach Mark McDermott will be hoping for a second win of the campaign following defeats to France (away) and Wales (at tonight's venue) in their last two matches. What will concern him is the patchy nature of the Irish performances, even in their victory over Italy. In that game there were only snatches of the type of rugby this group of players is capable of.

The revolving door at outhalf continues with St Mary's College playmaker Jonathan Sexton winning the starting role back from Garryowen's Conan Doyle, who is named in the replacements.

Speaking of outhalves, there are three in action in the Irish three-quarter line in Sexton, Peter Durcan and Matthew Williams, who can also play in the centre. Once again an Ireland Under-21 team are bereft of genuine wings, a situation far too prevalent in recent years.

Darragh Hurley, who had to withdraw from the Wales game with a hamstring injury, returns to the squad but not the starting team as Callum Black remains at loosehead prop. In the backrow, Ross Noonan returns at blindside flanker for Michael Essex.

Ireland have lost only once to Scotland at this level, 16-8, at Falkirk Stadium last season. The Scots haven't won a match this season, losing heavily to England and France, and by a couple of scores to Wales. It shouldn't camouflage the fact they have some very fine players.

Glasgow Warriors duo John Beattie and John Barclay have excelled for the professional side this season and form an exciting backrow alongside try scorer the last day, Alan McDonald of Edinburgh Gunners. Beattie will make his first Six Nations start this year having recovered from the glandular fever. Barclay returns following a blow to the head sustained in the Welsh match.

The inclusions in the backrow are two of five changes, including one positional, to the side who lost 49-22 to England in Falkirk. Ben Addison switches from wing to fullback while Newcastle Falcons' Cameron Johnston comes in on the right wing.

Johnston, renowned for his pace, has been honing his skills with Scotland sevens having earned his fifth caps at the IRB USA Sevens in Los Angeles, where Scotland won the bowl. Warriors apprentice Iain Kennedy is restored at inside centre.

Coach Iain Paxton admitted: "This is the backrow we were hoping to have right from the start but unfortunately it wasn't possible. Hopefully they'll produce the level of performance they are capable of and we'll benefit from the experience they've gained from their pro teams.

"We've made a few changes and tinkered a bit. Cameron has been playing well for Scotland sevens and he's got real gas so we're keen to look at him. The changes on the bench have come through feedback from coaches and having watched players recently at club level. We're casting the net before we head to Vichy for the World Cup in June."

IRELAND UNDER-21: F Carr (Blackrock); P Durcan (Galwegians), F McFadden (UCD), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), M Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College); J Sexton (St Mary's College), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); C Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins, capt), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University); D Toner (Lansdowne), D Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), R Noonan (UCC), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), S O'Brien (UCD). Replacements: S Cronin (Shannon), D Hurley (UCC), D McGowan (Buccaneers), B Holland (UCC), D Williams (UCC), C Doyle (Garryowen), T Gleeson (Cork Constitution).

SCOTLAND UNDER-21: B Addison (Stirling County); C Johnston (Newcastle Falcons), B Cairns (Edinburgh Gunners), I Kennedy (Glasgow Warriors), R Cairns (Boroughmuir); D Blair (Sale Sharks, capt), G Laidlaw (Jed-Forest), R Grant (The Army), S Crombie (Aberdeen GSFP), D Young (Leicester Tigers); J Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), I Nimmo (Leicester Tigers); J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), J Beattie (Glasgow Warriors). Replacements: A Reekie (Currie), K Traynor (Edinburgh Gunners), S Newlands (Heriot's), C Forrester (GHA), S Biggart (Glasgow Hawks), J King (Border Reivers), C Dunlop (Durham University).