Noel McNamara's dominant Ireland U20 side will hit Colwyn Bay in a bid to become the first ever Irish side to pick up an U20 Six Nations Grand Slam. They secured the Six Nations trophy with a heart-racing win over France in Cork's Irish Independent Park, but the Irish youths will still be itching to go against a Welsh side that have already lost to France and Scotland during this year's competition. The action gets underway at 7:05 PM and we'll have all the action here on the Irish Mirror live blog. Ireland U20 team to play Wales: Jake Flannery (Munster); Angus Kernohan (Ulster), Liam Turner (Leinster), Sean French (Munster), Jonathan Wren (Munster); Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Josh Wycherley (Munster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Charlie Ryan (Leinster, captain), Niall Murray (Connacht); Martin Moloney (Leinster), Scott Penny (Leinster), John Hodnett (Munster). Replacements: John McKee (Leinster), Callum Reid (Ulster), Ryan Lomas (Connacht), Ryan Baird (Leinster), David McCann (Ulster), Cormac Foley (Leinster), Ben Healy (Munster), Rob Russell (Leinster). If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.<doc-sep>The Wales Under-20 head coach shuffles his backline including Sam Costelow making his first start at this level. He has been called up to start at fly-half after a bright cameo in the 27-20 loss to Scotland in Round Four. Cai Evans moves from No.10 to full-back, with Ioan Davies moving from the No.15 jersey to the wing for the match at Zipworld Stadium. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler gets the nod out outside centre, with Max Llewellyn dropping to the bench, while Tomi Lewis returns on the wing in place of Alex Morgan. Up front, Rhys Davies and Ed Scragg return to the front row and second row respectively. 📣#WalesU20 announce team to face Grand Slam chasing Ireland at @StadiwmZipWorld on Friday evening #SixNations FULL STORY | https://t.co/cP6uxLOdRv pic.twitter.com/8obUmIVMiU — Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) 13 March 2019 A win for Wales could see them jump up the table, where they currently sit fourth with 10 points, narrowly behind England and France. “It was a big aim of ours to win the championship but that is obviously off the table after our disappointing defeat to Scotland last time out but Friday is still a Test match at international level, against a traditional rival in Ireland, so I’m sure it will be a fantastic occasion,” said Williams. “Ireland will be very driven to finish the job off after claiming the championship with one round to go but if we show the quality and passion from the England game, then we should be able to give a good account of ourselves.” Williams has rotated his team throughout the Championship and this one is no different, with Costelow earning his first start at Under-20 level. “It’s a reward for how he has been performing throughout the Six Nations, especially for that 15-20 minutes against Scotland,” he said. “Cai Evans has been retained in the team because he has been quality throughout the competition and is yet to miss a kick at goal. “Dragons second row Ed Scragg gets another start, also as a reward for his performances and he continued his good form against Scotland as a second half replacement. “We know Ireland are seeking a Grand Slam but we are focused on ourselves. We’re appreciative of how well they have done this campaign and they are a real threat and possess leadership across the park. “But the boys are determined to finish the campaign off on a high note in front of a big home crowd.” Wales U20 v Ireland, Zipworld Stadium, Fri March 15, KO 7.05pm (Live on S4C) 15 Cai Evans (Ospreys) 14 Tomi Lewis (Scarlets) 13 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys) 12 Aneurin Owen (Dragons) 11 Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues) 10 Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers) 9 Dafydd Buckland (Dragons) 1 Rhys Davies (Ospreys) 2 Dewi Lake (c)(Ospreys) 3 Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues) 4 Ed Scragg (Dragons) 5 Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues) 6 Ellis Thomas (Llanelli) 7 Jac Morgan (Aberarvon/Scarlets) 8 Iestyn Rees (Scarlets) Replacements 16 Will Griffiths (Dragons) 17 Tom Devine (Dragons) 18 Nick English (Bristol Bears) 19 Jac Price (Scarlets) 20 Ioan Rhys Davies (Cardiff Blues) 21 Dan Babos (Dragons) 22 Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues) 23 Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets)<doc-sep>15 March 2019; Liam Turner of Ireland celebrates after winning the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Zip World Stadium in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 15 March 2019; Ireland celebrate with the cup after winning the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Zip World Stadium in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile A grandstand finish fitting for the Grand Slam champions. For just the second time in this country's history, the Ireland U-20s swept all before them to be crowned Six Nations winners in stunning fashion. The future of Irish Rugby is in safe hands as Noel McNamara's outstanding young team showed remarkable resilience to beat Wales in Colwyn Bay for the first time. Trailing 10-0 in the first half, Ireland fought back before they had to come from behind late in the second half to seal the victory. A try from Jonatahn Wren on the stroke of half time was cruciial as was Dylan Tierney-Martin's just after the break before two late scores from Colm Reilly and Thomas Clarkson send the sizeable travelling support into raptures. The joyous scenes at full-time were filled with relief as Ireland dug deep to pull off a famous victory. In Scott Penny, Ireland had the best player on the pitch and the hugely talented flanker was ably assisted by John Hodnett, who as he has done throughout the tournament, carried relentlessly. Craig Casey and Harry Byrne were late withdrawals and even without their first-choice 9-10-12 axis, Ireland's strength in depth came to the fore once again. Not for the first time, the Irish scrum was a powerful weapon as they made another massive statement against a big Welsh pack. A couple of uncharacteristic errors early on didn't do much to help settle any nerves with Wren and Jake Flannery combing well in defence on the edge as Wales piled on the pressure. Ireland withstood the wave after wave of red jerseys until the 11th minute, when the hosts struck for the opening try through Aneurin Owen, which Cai Evans converted. A second scrum penalty gave Noel McNamara's side a much-needed foothold in the contest and when Healy found a good touch in the corner, it was Ireland's turn to crank up the pressure. The TMO came to Wales' aid twice in as many minutes as Penny was adjudged to have dotted the ball just short of the whitewash. Then from the resulting scrum, Sean French powered towards the line, only for the TMO to again rule that the ball was shy of the line – much to the frustration of the visitors. Just as it looked like Ireland would build on that, captain Charlie Ryan was pinged for not releasing on the half-way line and Evens confidently stepped up to brilliantly strike the ball between the posts. Trailing 10-0 after half an hour, Ireland's sloppiness was beginning to cost them, but they never deviated from the expansive game-plan that had serve them so well and eventually it paid off. With a minute of the first half left, Wales switched off and Ireland's electric back-line clicked into gear and scored a sensational try. It all came from Angus Kernohan, who was waiting for a chance to show off his searing pace throughout the campaign, and the Ulster winger seized his opportunity as he danced his way around the Welsh defence and made 35 metres up field. With the defence scrambling back to cover, Ireland quickly recycled the ball and moved it wide where Penny cleverly drew in the last defender before playing a lovely pass to Wren, who did well to hold his width and score. Healy made no mistake with the conversion to leave Ireland training by just three points (10-7) at the break. The message at half-time would have been simple: more of the same and it didn't take McNamara's side to deliver on that. Seven minutes after the restart Tierney-Martin showed great awareness to pick the ball at the base of the ruck and run clear to score. Healy conversion from wide on the left bisected the uprights as Ireland went into a 14-10 lead for the first time in the game. Wales were handed an immediate chance to hit back when Kernohan was penalised for not releasing but this time Evans' radar was off as he pushed the kick wide. It was a let off for Ireland. Penny came to his side's rescue with an outstanding turnover deep inside his own 22 and from there, Ireland launched a superb counter attack. They thought they were over for their third try after 54 minutes as French combined brilliantly with Kernohan who scored in the corner, only for the TMO to spot a slight forward pass in the build up from Liam Turner. Wales from looking dead and buried to putting themselves back in front as just after the TMO came to their rescue for the third time, Jac Morgan scored their second try with Evans again adding the extras. Trailing 17-14, Ireland's struggles at the breakdown continued and when they conceded another penalty, Evans again pointed the posts from half-way but his kicked drifted narrowly wide. Ireland were under all sorts of pressure when Wales cut through their defence and they had Kernohan to thank for forcing a massive turnover penalty close to his own line. With timing very much against them, Ireland pulled it out of the fire and it was worth the wait. With the Welsh defence tiring, Reilly spotted a gap around the the edge of the ruck and the scrum-half didn't need a second invitation to hare through to score. With Healy off the pitch, Jake Flannery took on the kicking responsibilities and he was unlucky to see his well-struck conversion come back off the post. Nevertheless, Ireland led 19-17 with seven minutes remaining and they expertly made sure of the victory when Clarkson powered over for a try that Flannery converted as Ireland wrote themselves into the history books as Grand Slam champions. Wales U-20s – C Evans; T Lewis, T Thomas-Wheeler, A Owen (M Llewellyn 73), I Davies (R Conbeer 51); S Costelow, D Buckland; R Davies, D Lake (capt) (W Griffiths 51), B Warren (N English 73); E Scragg (J Price 51), T Williams; E Thomas (I Rhys Davies, 73), J Morgan, I Rees. Ireland U-20s – J Flannery; A Kernohan, L Turner, S French, J Wren; B Healy (R Russell 63), C Foley (C Reilly 63); J Wycherley (C Reid 59), D Tierney-Martin (J McKee 63), T Clarkson; C Ryan, N Murray (R Baird 49); M Moloney, S Penny, J Hodnett (D McCann 71) REF: C Ridley (England) Online Editors<doc-sep>
While the senior team step out in the Principality Stadium in Wales later today with their Championship hopes resting on results elsewhere, the Ireland U20s had a very different narrative on Friday night. They battled back against the Welsh to seal a 26-17 win over Wales to secure the Grand Slam for the first time since 2007. That team from 12 years ago included the likes of Cian Healy and Keith Earls. The Welsh led 10-7 at half-time, and were 17-14 up with less than 10 minutes to go, but Ireland, with the championship already secured, kept their eyes on the Grand Slam prize. The Slam hope was looking less and less likely as the clock wound down, but sub scrum-half Colm Reilly eventually bolted in to scoop up the ball at a ruck and get over the line from 10 metres to gain the lead. Watch Ireland lift the #U20SixNations trophy after completing the Grand Slam https://t.co/ILLcD4Pdq2 pic.twitter.com/bi1dy9hPtC — RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 15, 2019 And despite a missed conversion from the boot of Jake Flannery, Thomas Clarkson eventually managed to get over the line again near the death to secure a sensational win that had a number of players with tears in their eyes. Wales U-20s – C Evans; T Lewis, T Thomas-Wheeler, A Owen (M Llewellyn 73), I Davies (R Conbeer 51); S Costelow, D Buckland; R Davies, D Lake (capt) (W Griffiths 51), B Warren (N English 73); E Scragg (J Price 51), T Williams; E Thomas (I Rhys Davies, 73), J Morgan, I Rees. Ireland U-20s – J Flannery; A Kernohan, L Turner, S French, J Wren; B Healy (R Russell 63), C Foley (C Reilly 63); J Wycherley (C Reid 59), D Tierney-Martin (J McKee 63), T Clarkson; C Ryan, N Murray (R Baird 49); M Moloney, S Penny, J Hodnett (D McCann 71)