Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Ireland U20s second pool game at the U20 World Championship in South Africa, with Richie Murphy’s side taking on the Junior Wallabies.
Ireland are looking for their first win at the tournament after opening their campaign with a 34-34 draw against England on Saturday, while Australia come into the game on the back of a 46-37 defeat of Fiji.
Kick-off in Paarl is at 10am Irish time.
29 Jun 2023
9:50AM
Here’s a reminder of how Ireland lineup today. Murphy has made four changes from the England game, with James Nicholson, Ronan Foxe, Charlie Irvine and Brian Gleeson all coming into the starting 15.
Ireland find themselves under pressure as Australia go in search of an early score, and after moving the ball wide they get over in the corner, but the play is called back and restarts with an Australia scrum. The pitch looking very heavy underfoot in Paarl, with some players losing their footing already.
29 Jun 2023
10:08AM
Penalty (Prendergast) – Ireland 3 Australia 0
Wow. Australia are hammering at Ireland but Andrew Osborne makes a good read to intercept a Wallabies pass and break down the pitch. He doesn’t have the legs to go all the way but Ireland work their way back infield, eventually winning a penalty, which Sam Prendergast slots.
29 Jun 2023
10:12AM
𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐘 🟢
Sam Prendergast kicks the opening points of the game.
Ireland have under a lot of pressure here but a brilliant kick from Prendergast pins Australia back to the edge of their own 22. Ireland build on that by disrupting the lineout before Charlie Irvine wins a penalty. Richie Murphy’s side starting to grow into this game now.
29 Jun 2023
10:22AM
20mins: Ireland 3 Australia 0
Ireland put their best piece of attacking play together through a lovely series of passes, with Prendergast heavily involved, but it ends with James Nicholson being forced into touch. The Ireland winger looks in a bit of discomfort as Australia win the resulting lineout and clear their lines.
Australia strike for the opening try of the game. The Wallabies turn the ball over and go the length of the field, with some nice feet by centre David Vaihu before Henry McDonald finishes the move, with Jack Bowen adding the conversion. It’s a really well worked score, and it’s been coming.
What a response from Ireland. A huge carry from Paddy McCarthy brings Ireland right up the tryline, but he’s held up. Ireland then quickly spin the ball out to the wing where Nicholson is on hand to collect Prendergast’s pass and score. Prendergast is off-target with the conversion.
A great end to the half for Ireland as Prendergast kicks Ireland into the lead with the last action of the first period. Ireland have struggled at times and their discipline has been an issue, but Richie Murphy’s side have done really well to keep in the game and turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead. Big second half ahead in Paarl!
29 Jun 2023
11:02AM
40mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10
The second half has just kicked off. Australia now without tighthead Massimo de Lutiis, who came off injured at the end of the first half. He’ll be a big loss for the Wallabies.
The rain has picked up in Paarl and the pitch looking very heavy now.
29 Jun 2023
11:11AM
48mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10
Conditions really impacting the game now. Another poor mistake from Ireland as Prendergast kicks the ball dead on the full, and after a couple of scrums Australia break, only for winger Tim Ryan to spill the ball forward when he had a clear run at the tryline.
Ireland have their second try, Brian Gleeson powering over from close range after good work by captain Gus McCarthy. That’s a huge score after Australia butchered a chance at the other end. Prendergast kicks the extras and Ireland lead by eight in Paarl.
That’s super stuff from Ireland. It starts with a big win at the scrum after a huge shove from the Ireland frontrow, and then Prendergast executes a brilliant kick to the corner. From the lineout, McCarthy gets over for Ireland’s third try of the morning, with Prendergast off target with the conversion.
Ireland now have a little over 15 minutes to chase the bonus point score.
29 Jun 2023
11:34AM
𝐆𝐔𝐒 𝐌𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘! 🟢
A huge moment from the Ireland captain who gets his first try at this level!
Ireland finishing on top here, they’ve let a few chances slip but Richie Murphy’s team are playing all the rugby in the Australia 22. They’ve five minutes left to get the bonus point score, but there’s a lot of tired bodies out there now.
29 Jun 2023
11:43AM
77mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
So close! Another big carry from Brian Gleeson but Paddy McCarthy is held up over the line.
29 Jun 2023
11:46AM
Yellow card: Rory Telfer
A TMO check for a high tackle by Rory Telfer, who goes in hard and high Australia’s Darby Lancaster. Decision is a yellow card.
29 Jun 2023
11:49AM
78mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
Another stoppage, Ruadhán Quinn on the end of a heavy head-on-head collision with Ned Slack-Smith. Decision is no foul play, so play will restart with an Ireland scrum as Quinn departs for a HIA.
And there it is. Ireland get the bonus point score right at the death, courtesy of Diarmuid Mangan, with Jack Oliver adding the extras.
In horrible conditions, Ireland did really well to turn that game around after a tricky start thanks to a huge shift from the forwards, with Brian Gleeson outstanding.
That bonus point could be crucial as Ireland look to make the semi-finals, with Richie Murphy’s side back out next Tuesday for their final pool game against Fiji. A brilliant morning’s work from the Grand Slam winners.
Thanks for joining our live coverage, we’ll have a full report and reaction on The 42 shorty.
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As it happened: Ireland v Australia, U20s World Championship
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Ireland U20s second pool game at the U20 World Championship in South Africa, with Richie Murphy’s side taking on the Junior Wallabies.
Ireland are looking for their first win at the tournament after opening their campaign with a 34-34 draw against England on Saturday, while Australia come into the game on the back of a 46-37 defeat of Fiji.
Kick-off in Paarl is at 10am Irish time.
Here’s a reminder of how Ireland lineup today. Murphy has made four changes from the England game, with James Nicholson, Ronan Foxe, Charlie Irvine and Brian Gleeson all coming into the starting 15.
Kick-off
2mins: Ireland 0 Australia 0
Ireland find themselves under pressure as Australia go in search of an early score, and after moving the ball wide they get over in the corner, but the play is called back and restarts with an Australia scrum. The pitch looking very heavy underfoot in Paarl, with some players losing their footing already.
Penalty (Prendergast) – Ireland 3 Australia 0
Wow. Australia are hammering at Ireland but Andrew Osborne makes a good read to intercept a Wallabies pass and break down the pitch. He doesn’t have the legs to go all the way but Ireland work their way back infield, eventually winning a penalty, which Sam Prendergast slots.
15mins: Ireland 3 Australia 0
Ireland have under a lot of pressure here but a brilliant kick from Prendergast pins Australia back to the edge of their own 22. Ireland build on that by disrupting the lineout before Charlie Irvine wins a penalty. Richie Murphy’s side starting to grow into this game now.
20mins: Ireland 3 Australia 0
Ireland put their best piece of attacking play together through a lovely series of passes, with Prendergast heavily involved, but it ends with James Nicholson being forced into touch. The Ireland winger looks in a bit of discomfort as Australia win the resulting lineout and clear their lines.
TRY – Ireland 3 Australia 7 (McDonald)
25mins: Ireland 3 Australia 7
Australia strike for the opening try of the game. The Wallabies turn the ball over and go the length of the field, with some nice feet by centre David Vaihu before Henry McDonald finishes the move, with Jack Bowen adding the conversion. It’s a really well worked score, and it’s been coming.
Penalty: Ireland 3 Australia 10 (Bowen)
27mins: Ireland 3 Australia 10
Australia stretch their lead to seven points, Bowen clipping over a penalty after Brian Gleeson is pinged for not rolling away.
TRY – Ireland (Nicholson) 8 Australia 10
33mins: Ireland 8 Australia 10
What a response from Ireland. A huge carry from Paddy McCarthy brings Ireland right up the tryline, but he’s held up. Ireland then quickly spin the ball out to the wing where Nicholson is on hand to collect Prendergast’s pass and score. Prendergast is off-target with the conversion.
Penalty – Ireland 11 (Prendergast) Australia 10
Half-time
A great end to the half for Ireland as Prendergast kicks Ireland into the lead with the last action of the first period. Ireland have struggled at times and their discipline has been an issue, but Richie Murphy’s side have done really well to keep in the game and turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead. Big second half ahead in Paarl!
40mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10
The second half has just kicked off. Australia now without tighthead Massimo de Lutiis, who came off injured at the end of the first half. He’ll be a big loss for the Wallabies.
The rain has picked up in Paarl and the pitch looking very heavy now.
48mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10
Conditions really impacting the game now. Another poor mistake from Ireland as Prendergast kicks the ball dead on the full, and after a couple of scrums Australia break, only for winger Tim Ryan to spill the ball forward when he had a clear run at the tryline.
TRY – Ireland (Gleeson) 18 Australia 10
55mins – Ireland 18 Australia 10
Ireland have their second try, Brian Gleeson powering over from close range after good work by captain Gus McCarthy. That’s a huge score after Australia butchered a chance at the other end. Prendergast kicks the extras and Ireland lead by eight in Paarl.
TRY: Ireland 23 (McCarthy) Australia 10
64mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
That’s super stuff from Ireland. It starts with a big win at the scrum after a huge shove from the Ireland frontrow, and then Prendergast executes a brilliant kick to the corner. From the lineout, McCarthy gets over for Ireland’s third try of the morning, with Prendergast off target with the conversion.
Ireland now have a little over 15 minutes to chase the bonus point score.
75mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
Ireland finishing on top here, they’ve let a few chances slip but Richie Murphy’s team are playing all the rugby in the Australia 22. They’ve five minutes left to get the bonus point score, but there’s a lot of tired bodies out there now.
77mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
So close! Another big carry from Brian Gleeson but Paddy McCarthy is held up over the line.
Yellow card: Rory Telfer
A TMO check for a high tackle by Rory Telfer, who goes in hard and high Australia’s Darby Lancaster. Decision is a yellow card.
78mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10
Another stoppage, Ruadhán Quinn on the end of a heavy head-on-head collision with Ned Slack-Smith. Decision is no foul play, so play will restart with an Ireland scrum as Quinn departs for a HIA.
TRY: Ireland 30 (Mangan) Australia 10
FULLTIME: Ireland 30 Australia 10
And there it is. Ireland get the bonus point score right at the death, courtesy of Diarmuid Mangan, with Jack Oliver adding the extras.
In horrible conditions, Ireland did really well to turn that game around after a tricky start thanks to a huge shift from the forwards, with Brian Gleeson outstanding.
That bonus point could be crucial as Ireland look to make the semi-finals, with Richie Murphy’s side back out next Tuesday for their final pool game against Fiji. A brilliant morning’s work from the Grand Slam winners.
Thanks for joining our live coverage, we’ll have a full report and reaction on The 42 shorty.
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Australia U20s Liveblog Minute-by-Minute Ireland U20s