Mapletoft’s tyros hope to continue their Grand Slam quest

England U20s will hope to inflict Ireland’s first loss in the Six Nations since July 2021 and take a giant step towards a Grand Slam.

Mark Mapletoft‘s side secured maximum points in their first three games courtesy of bonus point victories over Italy, Wales and Scotland but his batch of youngsters are fully aware that the big tests are to come tonight and next week.

Following tonight’s blockbuster clash with Ireland at the Rec in Bath, England travel to France as they take on the world champions in Pau next week, hoping to secure a first Six Nations clean sweep since 2021.

Harlequins centre Ben Waghorn, Jacob Oliver of Newcastle Falcons, and lock duo Olamide Sodeke (Saracens) and Junior Kpoku (Racing 92) are welcomed back into the starting XV following England’s victory north of the border against Scotland. 

Gloucester fly-half Rory Taylor endured a hamstring injury in the victory over Scotland, promoting Harlequins 10 Josh Bellamy to his first start.

Uncapped Saracens hooker James Isaacs is in line for his first U20 cap as a replacement, with James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) and Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons) also return to the matchday squad.

Richie Murphy’s Ireland join England as the remaining two unbeaten teams in the tournament this year, putting bonus-point performances in against France and Wales.

Mapletoft said: “England and Ireland have had some battles in recent times and this fixture is one that I’m sure our fans have been anticipating since it was announced last year.  

“The support we received in our last outing at the Rec was second to none, and the fact we’re expecting an even bigger crowd this weekend only adds to what promises to be a memorable occasion. 

“Richie (Murphy) is a coach I have great respect for. He and his staff have built a very impressive programme and we look forward to welcoming them this Friday to write another chapter.” 

Ireland head coach Murphy has made four changes and a positional switch from the starting XV that beat Wales a fortnight ago.

Murphy has changed the entire front row with Alex Usanov, Danny Sheahan and Jacob Boyd, who were on the bench against Wales promoted to the starting team with hooker Henry Walker and props Ben Howard and Patreece Bell dropping to the replacements.

Alan Spicer, who was left out the last day returns to partner captain Evan O’Connell in the second row, while Joe Hopes returns to blindside flanker where he played the first two matches of the campaign. 

Sean Edogbo reverts to the bench – Tom Brigg drops out of the matchday 23 – having started the last game.

Ireland winger Finn Treacy is looking forward to playing at The Rec in Bath, an iconic rugby ground, where they’ll face an England team that boasts plenty of power and a scrum that’s contributed handsomely to their three wins.

“We’ve seen in the last few games how strong England have been in that area,” he said.

“We’re confident enough in our own skills and really put an emphasis on imposing ourselves on them more so than worrying about what they can bring.”

ENGLAND: Redshaw,  Cousins, Waghorn, Kerr, Wills, Bellamy, McParland; Opoku-Fordjour, Oliver, Sela, Sodeke, Kpoku, Carnduff (c), Pollock, Michelow

Replacements: Isaacs, Kirk, Halliwell, Carr, James, Douglas, Makepeace-Cubitt, Spencer

IRELAND: O’Connor, Treacy, de Klerk, Gavin, McLaughlin, Murphy, Coffey; Usanov, Sheahan, Boyd, Spicer, O’Connell (c), Hopes, Ward, Murphy

Replacements: Walker, Howard, Bell, Corrigan, Edogbo, Brophy, Naughton, ColbertReferee: Reuben Keane