The former Ireland fly-half though knows his charges will have to hit the ground running as they open their campaign on 6th June against Argentina U20 in Pool C at Cardiff Arms Park, the side that Elwood expects to be battling for second place behind last year’s IRB U19 World Champions New Zealand U20.
“We have targeted the Argentina match as the game for us if we are to get out of the pool in second place,” Elwood told The Irish Times. “It’s not a case of dismissing Tonga but we have to aspire to win that match anyway. New Zealand have a star-studded squad, comfortably the best in the tournament. We have to be realistic about what can be accomplished.”
Ireland U20 finished fourth in the 2008 U20 Six Nations earlier this year, recording victories at home over Italy U20 and Scotland U20, and have been training at the state of the art facilities of the Aspire (Advanced Sports Performance Ireland) fitness centre in Clara to prepare for the Junior World Championship.
“We’re a small side and to be fair we probably boxed above our weight during the Six Nations,” continued Elwood. “I suppose we won the games that we were expected to win and we’ll be looking to give a good account of ourselves in Wales. We treat the players as young professionals and look for them to develop as players. The attitude has been excellent.”
Ireland U20 will again be captained by flanker Paul Ryan, one of a number of players who helped their country finish ninth in Division A at the IRB U19 World Championship 2007 in Northern Ireland to make Elwood’s 26-man squad to contest this inaugural tournament in Wales.
Elwood is not the only former international now coaching one of the Pool A sides as former Pumas wing Diego Albanese is one third of Argentina U20’s coaching team along with Eduardo Fernández Gill and Eduardo Viazzo. Argentina U19, coached by another former Pumas star in Patricio Noriega, finished eighth at the IRB U19 World Championship last year and more than two thirds of that squad will be leading the South American challenge at this new U20 tournament, including the likes of full back Belisario Agulla, fly-halves Martín Landajo and Nicolás Sanchez, centre Juan Pablo Socino and No.8 Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal.
Neither Ireland U20 or Argentina U20 though will underestimate the threat posed by Tonga U20, who will be buoyed by the country’s impressive performances at Rugby World Cup 2007 as well as on the IRB Sevens World Series and with representative side Tautahi Gold having reached the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup final this weekend. Tonga U20, who open their campaign against one of the tournament favourites New Zealand U20 on 6th June, finished fifth in Division B at last year’s IRB U19 World Championship and coach Feao Vakata has given two thirds of that squad another chance to fly their flag on the international stage.
Among the returning players are centre Sione Toke, the third leading points-scorer in the IRB U19 World Championship 2007 with 54, hooker Lepaola Taueli, flanker Constantin Kauvaka, prop Maleko Latu and full back Mateo Malupo.
Ireland U20 Squad: Stephen Archer, Ben Barclay, Conor Cleary, Chris Cochrane, Stephen Douglas, Martin Dufficy, Michael Entwistle, Kieran Essex, Jason Harris-Wright, Conor Higgins, Paul Karayiannis, Dave Kearney, Ian Madigan, Patrick Mallon, Dave Moore, Niall Morris, Ian Nagle, David Nolan, Eoin O’Malley, Ian Power, Paul Ryan (Captain), James Sandford, Sean Scanlon, Eamonn Sheridan, Eoin Sheriff, Jamie Smith
Argentina U20 Squad: Belisario Agulla, Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal, Lucas Alcácer Mackinlay, Esteban Bustillo, Ignacio Di Santi, Agustín Ellero, Juan Pablo Estelles, Cristian Etchart, Juan Figallo, Mauricio Guidone, Santiago Guzmán, Marcos Insúa, Martín Landajo, Luciano Leibson, Guido Lofiego, Paolo Mac, Benjamín Madero, Diego Palma, Aníbal Panceyra, Francisco Panessi, Guillermo Roan, Federico Salazar, Nicolás Sanchez, Juan Pablo Socino, Luis Torres, Joaquín Tucullet
Tonga U20 Squad: Lonely Kengike, Tevita Moliteka, Ikuna Manuofetoa, Maleko Latu, Mosa’ati Afu, Tone Tukufuka, Lepaola Taueli, Finau Tupa, Sotele Hehea, Tevita Tangi, Constantin Kauvaka, Samiuela Vea, Inoke Taufa, Paula Kata, Sekope Maea, John Hausia, Mahe Fangupo, Richard Kaufusi, Charles Mateo, Alfred Hauisa, William Takai, Mateo Malupo, Salesi Sete, Samiuela Atiola, Sione Toke, Haloti Molitika
