Andrew Browne has given Ireland U20s a clear reset point for Thursday’s Junior World Championship meeting with Argentina after making four changes to his starting side in Tbilisi.
The update, confirmed by Irish Rugby, brings Jack Deegan and Tom Wood into the backline, while Joe Finn and Alex Lautsou are added to the pack for the Pool C fixture at Avchala Stadium.
Ireland’s spine gets a fresh Argentina test
Noah Byrne, Charlie Molony and Daniel Ryan remain together in the back three, giving Browne continuity in the area that must convert territory into points. Deegan’s move into midfield beside James O’Leary is the more pointed call, with Ireland needing cleaner access after the Argentina reset created by Ryan’s scoring form.
Sami Bishti again captains the team from tighthead, with Finn joining Donnacha McGuire in the second row and Lautsou starting in a back row completed by Josh Neill and Diarmaid O’Connell.
The bench also matters. Duinn Maguire, Adam Cooper and Blake McClean cover the front row, while Rob Carney and Charlie O’Shea give Browne late attacking options if Argentina drag the contest into a set-piece grind.
Thursday’s game is live on Premier Sports and RugbyPass TV, with kick-off at 12.30pm Irish time. For Ireland, the selection is less about rotation than immediate correction in a pool where margin is already thin.
