AS IF TO underline the disjointed nature of international under age rugby, head coach Nigel Carolan was among the few in an IRFU track suit after gathering his squad yesterday.
The players filtered in to the Sandymount Hotel from training in provincial gear; purple Munster tops, the navy of Leinster, the red-lined Ulster jackets and dark green of Connacht. After a quick lunch it was time for a physical as well as mental colour swap. Out with the provincial banners, and all in under the IRFU badge.
Carolan’s squad bears only three members of the group which lost out in the final of last summer’s U20 World Championship – by beating New Zealand along the way.
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The balance of the team is altered somewhat, the domineering presence of James Ryan and Andrew Porter last year will be replaced by a pack that must be more agile, with the focus of Irish attacks left to a back-line with an exciting “x-factor”.
However, the target of developing players and letting them take another step towards the professional grade remain unchanged.
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