The lock, who is listed as a player for Dublin University FC, was awarded the opportunity to enter the Kingspan bubble in Ulster during the year and has not looked back since.

The 19-year-old has been able to train with the seniors and play for Ulster ‘A’ throughout the season.

“I don’t think I actually would have been able to complete my degree and pass, thank god, for this year if it had not have been for coronavirus,” said Sheridan.

From November onwards, Sheridan took training sessions with the senior squad at Ulster and enjoyed every minute of them.

The lock singled out Ian Madigan as a welcoming figure in the squad.

He said that Madigan offered advice during the sessions and on a one-on-one basis when he was with the seniors.

“I think he’s one of those guys who’s always going to look to bring on the young guys first and go to that extra step just to make us feel welcome.”

Sheridan earned his opportunity with Richie Murphy’s Irish U20 side after an impressive season and has been a consistent name on the teamsheet.

He has built up a good rapport with the players in the squad, including his second-row partner against Italy, Mark Morrissey.

He praised all three Ireland U20 coaches – Murphy, ‘Collie’ Tucker and Denis Leamy – after experiencing their expertise first-hand in the camp.

The side has looked solid defensively, excluding some discipline issues against England, and their set-pieces and attack have been very impressive for the majority of the U20 Six Nations Championship thus far.

Sheridan believes they can learn from the errors that they made against the unbeaten English side and that they will improve against Italy on Wednesday.

“We’ve got a game plan for Italy and we are looking to execute it to the best of our ability.”

The game will kick off at 2 pm and will be shown live on RTÉ 2.

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The Ulsterman suffered an injury thirty minutes into his debut in the opening round of the U20 Six Nations Championship against Scotland.

The Ulsterman loved every second of his short-lived introduction to the U20s and is raring to go on Wednesday.

“Any opportunity to play in this team [is worth it],” said the fly-half.

Humphreys is a man who wants to carve his own path rather than attempt to replicate his father David Humphreys’ playing style.

The 20-year-old remembers going to Ravenhill to watch his father play at a young age but wants people to remember him for the player he is, not the one his father was.

His father is respectful of this and allows him to make his own mould.

“He lets me try and play my own game and do my own things.”

Humphreys comes into the side in place of Leinster’s Tim Corkery who he said performed well in his absence.

The Ulster prospect added that the squad all just love playing with each other and playing for Ireland.

He will be part of an Ulster dominant backline that includes fullback Jamie Osborne and scrum-half Nathan Doak.

On Doak, the first five-eighth commended his performances throughout the campaign so far.

“He’s a great player to play with – he makes everyone around him feel very comfortable.”

Doak and his fellow Ulster prospect are fans of big moments and will look to create them when they can but Humphrey says that their focus is solely on how they can implement their game plan against a strong Italian side.

Massimo Brunelli’s side has impressed Humphreys with their slick attacking rugby and their physicality.

However, he feels that Ireland can get past them as long as they play to the best of their abilities.

You can watch the game live on RTÉ 2 with kick-off at 2 pm.

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His Ireland side will face an Italian side that trounced Scotland with dazzling and expansive attacking rugby.

Murphy has been impressed by what he has seen from Massimo Brunello’s side so far in the 2021 U20 Six Nations Championship.

“They’ve got two very good wingers, they’ve got a real offloading threat all the way through their team,” said Murphy.

“They’re playing a very expansive offloading game.”

The head coach also noted that the side boasts the perennial Italian strength in their scrum.

The likes of Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni are among the Italian rugby legends that were in the senior pack in recent years.

The trend of great Italian forwards could continue with this batch of U20s but Murphy is focused on his side’s performance.

“We’re very much trying to get back to what we believe our standards are.”

Nine changes have been made to the side that began the loss to England last Thursday.

Daniel Okeke makes his first start after impressing Murphy and the other coaches with his growth in recent weeks.

His boss stated that he can run 100m in just 12 seconds and weighs around 130 kg.

“He’s a lot to learn in and around the game…but when he gets his hand on the ball, that’s when you see what a dynamic athlete he is.”

Alex Soroka and captain Alex Kendellen will join the number eight in the back row.

Their ever-presence in the side underlines their importance to this crop of U20 internationals.

The likes of lock Harry Sheridan, scrum-half Nathan Doak and fullback Jamie Osborne also feature again for the side.

“Those guys [who are ever-present in the side] have been the guys who have stood up within the group and filled leadership roles.”

Kendellen’s work rate on the pitch and Soroka’s experience in the lineout is something the squad can be motivated by.

The trio of Soroka, Kendellen and Okeke will provide the team with a “dynamic back row”, according to Murphy.

Behind them at fly-half is James Humphreys, who makes his return to the side in an Ulster-dominant backline.

Murphy praised the player and son of David Humphreys’ on-field intelligence and noted that he is trusted by the squad.

“James is a great player, intelligent rugby player, thinks about the game, understands how we’re trying to play. He makes the team feel comfortable with his decision-making.”

Murphy added that the team are a tight bunch and love playing for Ireland and each other.

They will want to improve on their performance against England and their head coach has the confidence that they will do so.

“We have a squad of players here that are all very capable of playing at this level.”

The game will kick off at 2 pm and will be available to watch on RTÉ 2.

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Many players have been given their first starts of the tournament and will line up alongside some mainstays in the side.

George Saunderson will get his chance at loosehead prop with Eoin De Buitléar and Sam Illo teaming up with him in the front row.

Mark Morrissey returns to the starting lineup and will pair up with Harry Sheridan at lock forward.

Alex Soroka returns to blindside flanker after a spell in the second row with captain Alex Kendellen making the move up to openside.

Daniel Okeke will make his first start for the side at number eight.

Nathan Doak will continue his run of starts at scrum-half with James Humphreys returning to the starting lineup at fly-half.

Ben Carson and Jude Postlethwaite come into the side in place of Cathal Forde and Shane Jennings.

Chay Mullins and Conor Rankin earn their first starts of the tournament on the wings with the ever-present Jamie Osborne behind them at fullback.

Winger Ben Moxham and centre Cathal Forde are among those on the bench for Wednesday’s clash.

Kick-off is at 2 pm at the Cardiff Arms Park and the game is available to watch on RTÉ 2.

Ireland U20 Team v Italy U20

Backs

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Naas RFC/Leinster)
14. Conor Rankin (Campbell College Belfast/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
13. Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
12. Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
11. Chay Mullins (SGC Filton/Bristol Bears/IQ Rugby)
10. James Humphreys (Dean Close School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
9. Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)

Forwards

1. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
2. Eoin de Buitléar (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin/An Ghaeltacht/Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
3. Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
4. Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster)
6. Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster)
7. Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster)(Captain)
8. Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris/Shannon RFC/Munster).

Replacements

16. Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
18. Liam Bishop (Trent College/Nottingham University/IQ Rugby)
19. Fearghail O’Donoghue (Cashel Community School/Cashel RFC/Munster)
20. Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster)
21. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
22. Cathal Forde (Colaiste Iognaid/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
23. Josh O’Connor (St Peter’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
24. Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
25. Levi Vaughan (Terenure College/Terenure RFC/Leinster)
26. Ben Moxham (Larne High School/Ballymena RFC/Ulster).

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