Ireland 14
England 19
NIGEL CAROLAN’S IRELAND U20s lost for this first time in the 2015 Six Nations as England powered to a 19-14 win in Donnybrook thanks in part to their strong second-half showing.
Ireland will reflect on several missed try-scoring chances in the opening 40 minutes with some regret, while their set-piece was restrictively poor in the latter stages. England’s bulk and dynamism played an obvious role in that, and the visitors were deserved winners.
Man of the match Garry Ringrose led another exciting effort from the Irish backline, playing an important part in Stephen Fitzgerald’s second-half try.
Out-half Ross Byrne missed three kicks from the tee and launched a poor kick for England’s first try, but again his playmaking marked him out as a player of promise. For the English, scrum-half James Mitchell kicked nine points, while Piers O’Conor and Joe Marchant scored tries.
Carolan’s side now look towards Wales in two weekends’ time with the championship still very much in mind, but this formidable England team will back themselves to beat Scotland and France in their remaining fixtures.
It was Mitchell who had the maiden chance off the tee after Josh Murphy came in the side of a ruck, but the England scrum-half was wide with his effort. Similarly, Byrne dragged his opening penalty wide in the sixth minute, failing to reward a superb Rory Moloney jackal penalty.
Byrne kept his composure with his second penalty seven minutes later, slotting from out on the right to send Ireland 3-0 ahead.
Carolan’s side almost manufactured a sharp try soon after as out-half Byrne launched a quickly-taken cross-field penalty wide to the left. Left wing Fitzgerald was in an ideal position to catch and score, but the Munster man spilled the ball over the line.
A thrilling outside break by Ringrose then provided Ireland’s next try-scoring opportunity, but having shipped the ball on to Billy Dardis, Ringrose could only watch as the fullback’s pass to right wing Jack Owens went forward with the tryline in view.
UCD playmaker Byrne did manage to add another three points from the tee as the first quarter elapsed but for Ireland to then concede almost instantly was a frustration, Mitchell punishing the failure to roll away at ruck time.
Ringrose produced another sensational moment of skill for the next big Irish chance, following up his own clever clearance kick and hack-on to scoop the ball back between his legs while moving at pace and into the hands of the supporting Sam Arnold.
Ireland looked certain to cross as they battered the English line, but referee Thomas Charabas oddly halted play before the advantage had been played out to send English back row Will Owen to the bin.
Byrne popped over the easy penalty from under the posts for 9-3, but again Ireland conceded a penalty of their own almost immediately. This time, Moloney was caught out for no release in the tackle and Mitchell made it 9-6.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, England suddenly grabbed the momentum, creating a big linebreak for centre Marchant and then luring Irish number eight Lorcan Dow into a silly offside penalty. Yellow card.
England backed their scrum from five metres out, but a good defensive set from Carolan’s side, including impressive reads by Ringrose and Moloney meant they held out for the half-time lead.
It didn’t last long into second period, however, as replacement wing O’Conor – a former Ireland U19 international – scorched home from his own half after a poor Byrne garryowen and an equally disappointing chase from Owens.
Mitchell missed the conversion, but England flooded forward again and into the Ireland 22. O’Conor dinked a grubber kick in behind and a defensive mix-up between hooker Zac McCall and Fitzgerald allowed England wing Howard Packman to gather and touch down.
However, Charabas went to his TMO and the video review showed O’Conor shoving McCall in the back off the ball. Let off the hook, Ireland responded in the best fashion possible.
A lovely tip-on pass from the impressive Jeremy Loughman allowed McCall to break, then Ireland were utterly clinical in converting from 35 metres out. A long left-handed pass from Byrne released Ringrose into space and he beat one man with a dummy before drawing in the final defender and sending Fitzgerald over in the right corner.
Byrne’s conversion effort struck the post to leave it at 14-9, a scoreline England soon levelled after replacement tighthead Conan O’Donnell was deemed to have dropped the scrum.
A high tackle on Ringrose gave Ireland a chance to re-take the lead, but Byrne pushed his penalty to the right of the posts. The ever-growing set-piece dominance of England was beginning to tell though, and a scrum penalty allowed them deep into the Ireland 22.
Ireland came offside, but the visitors quick-tapped and then shifted the ball to the right of the posts, where outside centre Joe Marchant beat the tackle of Ringrose to cross. Mitchell’s missed conversion left Ireland within five points at 19-14.
Ireland had a late spell inside the England 22, declining a shot at goal with five minutes remaining, before substitute lock Cian Romaine spilled the ball within metres of the English line following the subsequent lineout.
Ireland had a final chance to build after England kicked clear, but the lineout failed again and England saw out the closing 90 seconds near the Ireland half.
Ireland scorers:
Tries: Stephen Fitzgerald
Conversions: Ross Byrne [0 from 1]
Penalties: Ross Byrne [3 from 5]
England scorers:
Tries: Piers O’Conor, Joe Marchant
Conversions: James Mitchell [0 from 2]
Penalties: James Mitchell [3 from 4]
IRELAND U20: Billy Dardis; Jack Owens, Garry Ringrose, Sam Arnold (Harrison Brewer ’57), Stephen Fitzgerald; Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy (capt) (Jack Cullen ’67); Jeremy Loughman (Michael Lagan ’67), Zack McCall, Oisin Heffernan (Conan O’Donnell ’50); David O’Connor (Cian Romaine ’50), Alex Thompson; Josh Murphy, Rory Moloney (Nick Timoney ’62), Lorcan Dow (yellow card ’34 to ’44).
Replacements not used: Adam McBurney, Joey Carbery.
ENGLAND U20: Aaron Morris (Piers O’Conor ‘HT); George Perkins, Joe Marchant, Nick Tompkins, Howard Packman; Oliver Bryant (Will Homer ’60), James Mitchell; Ellis Genge (Seb Adeniran-Olule ’67), Jack Walker (Jack Innard ’67), Ciaran Parker (Paul Hill ’52); Kieran Treadwell, Charlie Ewels (capt.); Joe Batley (Charlie Beckett ’52), Will Owen (yellow card ’27 to 37) (Sam Skinner ’73), James Chisholm.
Replacements not used: Tom Howe.
Referee: Thomas Charabas (France).
Ringrose is a cracking player..
Can’t wait til ringrose is partnering henshaw in the centre for the seniors
Great Ref though.
Most impressive refereeing performance I’ve seen since Owen in his pomp.
Very disappointing. We were so much better than England for long periods in that game particularly in the first half.
Left it behind them.
Let’s hope for better fortunes on Sunday
Enjoyable game. Bit of everything on show from both sides in terms of skill but ultimately the muscle came out on top. Personally would have took 3 pts on 71mins to try get back up for drop goal. What will be will be. Well done to Irish lads, tough loss but future bright!
To say England “powered” to victory is a bit of an exaggeration, Ireland were well able for them physically. And England’s dynamism was nothing special either.
In Ireland, we have a terrible habit of over-hyping the strength of England, generally, to the detriment of ourselves. We see this from The Irish Times’ rugby pages, for example, every year before we play England and it has been no different over the past week sadly. This exaggeration of England never does Ireland any favours and I wish it would stop. You would never, ever, see the New Zealand, South African, Australian or even the Welsh rugby press speak about England in the fearful or laudatory way that we unjustifiably do.
The Ireland Under-20′s were far too unclinical and sloppy to win this game. Against a decent team you cannot afford to throw away so many scoring opportunities and hope to win. Better mental preparation is needed for Ireland at this level. It is a real shame for all the people who turned out at Donnybrook to watch what was a winnable match.
I read it as a kind of put down, England only win because of power, they’re never the better team.
Very good match to be fair, Ireland left too many tries in the first half, they had two that should of been walk ins and then had another 1 or 2 opportunities in the first half that would of put them in a commanding lead but nonetheless still a good performance and the future looks bright.
Donnybrook, an atmosphere free zone again. No wonder the games were moved to Athlone previously. IRFU, stick a 3g pitch in Bucc’s and send the games back….
Next generation of Orc’s a pretty limited bunch, one or two decent backs apart. Ireland killed themselves against much bigger opponent’s by being too direct and then not being accurate enough…
Pure power won the day in the end.That English team also had a fairly cynical streak.
I’m not one for comparisons but garry ringrose would only remind you of BOD. His Speed, vision tackling was superb. The future Definitely looks bright.
At least we know Byrne and Ringrose are nailed on as stars of the future – I’d say a toss up between Byrne and Hanrahan (if we bring him home) for 10 when Sexton retires.
I reckon Byrne will be good enough to compete with sexton even before he retires
It’s worth remembering England are currently twice world champions at this level.
But like all underage teams have a huge turnover of players year on year.
Great stuff out of Fitzgerald and Loughman too.
Bad decision not to take the points with 6 or 7 mins to go