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22

2019 Ireland Under-20s Bounce Back

12th,

June With Bonus Point Win Over Italy

|
EXAMINER Tplace finish in Pool B
he Ireland Under-20s
secured
a
second-
of the World Rugby U-20
IRISH Championship as they ran
in five tries in a hard-
earned 38-14 bonus point
win over Italy.
The big victory they need-
ed to significantly boost their
semi-final hopes looked on
the cards when they surged
into a 31-0 lead after just 38
minutes in humid Santa Fe.
However, Italy hit back with
tries either side of half-time
and Ryan Baird’s 55th-minute
effort proved to be the final
score of an attritional
encounter.
Out-half Ben Healy kicked
15 points, including the con-
versions of tries from Michael
Milne (7 minutes), Cormac
Foley (15), Azur Allison (33),
Rob Russell (37) and Baird.
Ireland’s second bonus point
success still sealed their best
overall pool performance
since 2016, and they move on
as sixth seeds, meeting
England in Rosario in
Monday’s 5th-8th place play- Center Cormac Foley got on the scoresheet as the Ireland Under-20s picked up five points in the final round of the pool stages in Santa Fe (INPHO)
offs. extra day will definitely help. who agonizingly lost 24-23 to sion and a brilliant touchline Jonathan Wren were both on
On a day when there were Just make sure we’re in the England last Saturday, were kick after Ireland had flooded at this stage with Ahern and
U-20 debuts for Thomas best possible place for our caught for numbers on the forward once more from Kernohan frustratingly forced
Ahern and replacements next game.” left where winger Russell’s another Italian handling off with knocks.
Luke Clohessy, David Ryan Ireland quickly set about pass back inside sent center error. Quick hands from That try was cancelled out
and Max O’Reilly, and five their task, using a series of Foley darting in to score close Reilly and Flannery, coupled before the hour mark, Reilly
players made their first starts, penalties to pin Italy back to the posts. with a brilliant out-the-back- making a smart break from a
stand-in captain Liam Turner right on their own line and Trailing 17-0, Italy’s execu- door pass from Healy, put ruck and the Irish forwards
praised his team-mates for Milne, Baird and David tion let them down near the Russell over in the left corner soon took over, picking and
the way they bounced back McCann all carried forcefully. Irish whitewash with a cou- past covering prop Lorenzo going up to the line where
from losing heavily to Indeed, it was McCann’s ple of knock-ons, while Michelini. Baird used his power to get
Australia and coped with quick delivery from a close-in Ireland scrambled well in Nonetheless, with five the ball down. Healy added
another tight four-day turn- ruck which sent tighthead defense. An Ahern turnover replacements on just before the extras to reopen a 24-
around. Milne over for the game’s and some raking clearance half-time, Italy struck in time- point advantage, but the bad
“We just wanted to come opening try, converted by kicks from Healy and Jake ly fashion with some scrum luck with injuries continued
into the game and play our Healy. Flannery won back those lost pressure leading to scrum as the ever-influential
game and take each moment The Garryowen and meters. half Alessandro Fusco sniping McCann was helped off.
at a time,” said the ever-pres- Munster Academy starlet Russell threatened on the over thanks to a clever With three tough fixtures
ent center afterwards. “A few quickly tagged on a penalty left again, both sides showing dummy to make it 31-7. They in eight days, tiredness crept
things didn’t stick for us, but goal, which was won by adventure to attack from gained further momentum in for both teams and the
you can’t question the effort turnover-hunting openside deep through some lung- with a quick-fire penalty try final quarter was littered with
in all three of our games so Ciaran Booth who unfortu- busting phases in the 22- from the second half’s open- mistakes. Knock-ons from
far. It’s been absolutely sav- nately injured himself in a degree heat. Kernohan was ing scrum, just five meters Foley and replacement Dylan
age from the whole squad dangerous-looking clear-out crowded out in the right cor- out. Tierney-Martin spoiled prom-
and the guys flying over late by Italian center Damiano ner, but Italy lost the result- Ireland’s error count ising attacks, and the latter
from Dublin (as injury Mazza. Niall Murray came on ing lineout, John McKee tidy- increased with Reilly fum- was also tackled short of the
replacements). in his place. ing up possession before bling the restart, the line. Russell then mishandled
“I’m really proud of the Disruption at an Italian Ulster Academy back rower Azzurrini swooping in before Healy’s pass with the line at
boys. We’ll get our recovery lineout and Angus Allison managed to crash the scrum option paid divi- his mercy, and Reilly’s late
in now, nutrition, get in the Kernohan’s sheer determina- over with support from dends with the back-pedaling opportunist attempt - he
pool. We’ve got a five-day tion to be first to Colm Murray. Irish infringing and coughing dived on a loose ball right on
turnaround this time (to the Reilly’s kick over the top led Healy kept up his 100% up seven more points. Squad the Italian line - was ruled out
play-offs on Monday), so the to a second Irish try. Italy, kicking rate with that conver- skipper Charlie Ryan and due to a prior knock-on. C