IRELAND PUT TOGETHER complete performance in today’s first World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against Argentina.
Nigel Carolan’s Wolfpups will face either England or South Africa (who kicked off at 19.45) in the final, here’s who made getting there a joy to watch today.
Andrew Porter
In Sky’s analysis room Luke Fitzgerald casually threw in a mention about Porter’s 350kg squat in the Leinster gym before heading away with the U20s. But you don’t need to see him in a gym to know he’s a freakish athlete.
The loosehead was a weapon of mass destruction for Ireland today, every carry drew Pumitas scurrying to try and drag him down and that created breathing space for the back to flourish.
It was at the scrum though where the big man on campus really made his presence felt. Any time the sides packed down, Porter was a immovable force who compounded Argentine knock-ons and made amends for Irish ones to keep the pressure on.
Johnny McPhillips
Looked like he never entertained an instant of doubt before this huge game. Expertly marshalled his team and his use of the boot at both ends of the field.
Under his own posts his clearances were long booming efforts down the touchlines that sucked the air out of Argentina’s confidence stores.
In attack, his passing was varied and intelligent, bringing carriers onto well-timed passes at pace and, of course, his goal-kicking was almost flawless. Two brilliant first-half touchline conversions were followed by three superb penalties into posts which have proven tricky to find for most kickers in this tournament. He looked so assured addressing each ball that his one miss felt like a travesty.
Max Deegan
A deserved man-of-the-match award for Ireland’s player of the tournament so far. Showed his incredible athleticism to outpace two backs on his 60 metre sprint to an intercept try.
Around the park his work-rate is never found wanting either with nimble footwork making tacklers work extra hard to take him down. Showed his drive to succeed in defence with an excellent attempt at a rip that turned into a choke and was harshly adjudged to be a penalty.
Jacob Stockdale
Another man who only seems to improve as the games get bigger. Better than anyone, he characterises the brilliant footwork this team make a hallmark and that makes him a safe pair of hands no matter where he collects the ball to take into contact.
When he’s not taking a turn on the deck and presenting quick ball, the Ulster back attacks the line and seems to ghost in and out of tacklers’ range.
James Ryan
We purposefully left Ryan out of a previous edition of this piece because he’s just so bloody obviously brilliant.
Unlike the Six Nations though, the captain hasn’t had to play out of his skin one game after another. In this tournament he has had a lot more help and he has been able to concentrate on keeping the fundamentals excellent rather than deliver some magic touches to get Ireland over the line – though he’s shown them too.
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Ref should have wore a red jersey he was cualas 16th man
@Moss Cotter: free in last min of normal time that resulted in Cuala goal looked horrid dodge
Entertaining but ref was very generous to Cuala
The free at the e d of normal time was a terrible decision should have been a free out at least , gaa refs can decide games more than in other games with dubious decisions and they are not answerable to nobody .
Some game
Cuala 1.12 from frees na piarsaig 0.4 from frees tells all abou the ref.
@Tony Mcgrath: Tells you more about na Piarsaig.
@Thomas McGilly: It really doesn’t Thomas. Ref performance was horrendous. Some the frees he gave to Cuala were ludicrous. Na Piarsaigh should have been out of sight.
@Colm O’Sullivan: Watched the game back today. Na Piarsaig were very cynical. Some soft frees to Cuala but to say that Cuala got 15 points from the ref is myopic to.say the very least. He wasn’t as bad as he’s being painted out.
Great game in the second half and extra time. Serious intensity to the game. Looking forward to the replay
What a game served up by both sides, thought that Ronan Lynch was completely under utilised by Na Piarsaigh, they were under serious pressure in their half back line and midfield. Lynch has played some of his best hurling in half back line the last few years not up at corner forward.
Any word when replay is? Can’t wait
Didn’t keep the referee quiet though… could backfire on Cuala in the replay
Will two boys back for the replay
@Aidan: I’d expect so, they’ve served their one match suspension
The ref saved Cuala twice.
They kept King Con quite anyway..
@Denis Hayes: He isn’t a hurler, he is an athlete, he is as likely to score a goal as a Point
@El Johno: of course he’s a hurler and one of the best, why not? Because he’s a Dub?
@Denis Hayes: Mike Casey did an outstanding job , removed his influence from the game completely.
@Michelle Dermody: Mike Casey is a class act, and probably the best full back Con has come up against todate. A young fit skilfull guy who stuck like glue to him.
Can’t wait for the round 2.
@Michelle Dermody: in fairness Con was a marked man
@Ray Farrell: Both Mike Casey and his brother Peter are a joy to watch, whether in Na Piarsaigh or Limerick colours. Honestly think Mike is the greatest Limerick defender I’ve seen for many years, not since a young Mark Foley was knocking around anyway.
Peter also has the potential to be the best corner forward the county has had since Eamon Cregan.
Fintin your headline score is incorrect
Ref a joke
I am following hurling years and that ref was a joke