Johnny Sexton has been helping form Ireland's masterplan for their Six Nations opener against England on Saturday.

Holders England survive Junior Kpoku's 20-minute red card to defeat Ireland in the Under-20s Six Nations opener 19-3 in Cork.

When these sides met last year, England scraped a draw to deny Ireland a historic three Grand Slams in succession

IRELAND’S U20 SIX Nations campaign began in defeat to champions England in a drudging curtain-raiser at Virgin Media Park, Cork. On a rainy, windy night on Leeside, England’s suffocative defence weathered a series of Irish storms and the pinpoint boot of Ben Coen did the rest of the damage as the visitors made a deserved winning start to their title defence.

Gavan Casey looks at some of Ireland’s U20 Six Nations debutants ahead of tonight’s meeting with England (7:45pm).