What time and TV channel is Ireland v England in U20 Six Nations tonight?
It could be the game of the 6 Nations U20 championship in Cork on Thursday night and the sold-out signs went up yesterday.
Almost 9,000 fans will cram into the Cork venue that has been the Ireland U20s' home since 2019, for the hosts' meeting with England - the side that just denied the hosts an historic three-in-a-row Grand Slams last year.
Ireland didn't lose their meeting in 2024 - and haven't lost in 15 championship matches in total going back to a loss to Wales six years ago. But their drawn encounter last year was enough for the Red Rose to clinch the title due to bonus points won.
With Richie Murphy now Ulster's head coach, another former Ulster coach Neil Doak - father of the province's scrum-half Nathan - is in charge of the U20s and is looking to increase Ireland's winning record at the old Musgrave Park to 12 games since the move south.
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Doak was able to name seven players - all forwards - who participated in last year's Six Nations and the subsequent World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.
One of those is Alex Usanov, the highly-rated Leinster academy loosehead who featured in the Emerging Ireland squad that travelled to South Africa last October and started two of the three victories on that tour.
Where is the game on?
The game takes place at Virgin Media Park, Cork
What time is kick-off?
The match kicks off at on Thursday at 7.45pm
What TV channel is it on?
You can watch the game on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button. It is also available to watch on Virgin Media Two in the Republic of Ireland, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm
Betting
Ireland 10/11 to win, England 10/11 to win; draw 20/1
Ulster hooker Henry Walker is another whose experience of last year's championship will be invaluable but the home pack must deal with an English unit that boasts Henry Pollock, the young Saracens back row who trained with England's seniors in Girona before joining up with the U20s squad.
Cork's own Éanna McCarthy, who is with the Connacht academy, will lead the team out on Leeside and will be on a mission to limit Pollock's effectiveness.
“That’s going to be a huge privilege,” said McCarthy. “Musgrave Park is very close to my heart so leading out my country at home is huge. It’s game focus now but it’s always at the back of your mind.”
Ireland U20s: C Molony (Leinster), D Moloney (Leinster), C Fahy (Leinster), E Smyth (Munster), C Mangan (Leinster), S Wisniewski (Leinster), C Logan (Ulster); A Usanov (Leinster), H Walker (Ulster), A Mullan (Leinster), M Ronan (Leinster), B Corrigan (Leinster), M Foy (Munster), B Power (Connacht), É McCarthy (Connacht, captain).
Replacements: C Magee (Ulster), B Bohan (Connacht), T McAllister (Ulster), D Walsh (Leinster), O Minogue (Munster), A Doyle (Leinster), G O'Leary Kareem (Munster), D Green).
England U20s : J Kinder (Leicester Tigers), J Bracken (Saracens), A Hall (Saracens), N Allison (Exeter Chiefs), C Griffin (Bath), B Coen (Exeter Chiefs), A McParland (Northampton Saints); R McEachran (Sale Sharks), K Tuipulotu (Bath), V Sela (Bath), O Sodeke (Saracens), T Burrow (Sale Sharks, captain), J Kpoku (Racing 92), H Pollock (Northampton Saints), K James (Exeter Chiefs).
Replacements: L Gulley (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Scola (Northampton Saints), T Raymont (Sale Sharks), A Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, G Timmins (Bath Rugby), L Friday (Harlequins), J Bellamy (Harlequins), N Lilley (Exeter Chiefs).
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