Head coach Mike Ruddockhas made two personnel changes to the Ireland side that defeated Scotland 26-0 last weekend in Athlone.Clontarf FC Loosehead prop Des Merrey gets his first start of the Championship, having been used as a replacement in each of the previous four games.
Kyle McCall moves to the tighthead side of the scrum with Niall Scannell named at hooker having missed the previous game through injury.
Ireland are two points clear of England at the top of the table thanks to their four wins to date. Friday’s game, to decide the Championship, will be broadcast live from Adams Park on Sky Sports 2/HD2.
IRELAND UNDER-20 Team & Replacements (v England Under-20s, RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship, Adams Park, High Wycombe, Friday, March 16, kick-off 8.05pm):
15 – Shane Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14 – Conor Finn (Buccaneers/Connacht)
13 – Chris Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster)
12 – JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
11 – Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10 – Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) (capt)
9 – Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
1 – Des Merrey (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 – Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
3 – Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
4 – Iain Henderson (Queen’s University/Ulster)
5 – Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht)
6 – Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster)
7 – Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht)
8 – Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 – James Rael (Garryowen/Munster)
17 – Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18 – Jake Cawley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
19 – Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Leinster)
20 – Jordan Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)
21 – Kieron Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
22 – Cathal Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster)
23 – Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Ireland Under-20s’ 2012 Fixtures/Results:
Friday, February 3 – Ireland U-20s 11 Wales U-20s 6, Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC
Saturday, February 11 – France U-20s 12 Ireland U-20s 13, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Friday, February 24 – Ireland U-20s 27 Italy U-20s 8, Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC
Friday, March 9 – Ireland U-20s 26 Scotland U-20s 0, Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC
Friday, March 16 – England U-20s v Ireland U-20s, Adams Park, London Wasps RFC, 8.05pm