There were a number of highlights for U20s coach Mike Ruddock ahead of a final day trip to take on France at Stade Maurice Trelut.
Adam Byrne
CameraSport / Chris Vaughan/INPHO
CameraSport / Chris Vaughan/INPHO / Chris Vaughan/INPHO
The Kildare native made numerous incisions up the left wing and showed up on the right to score his try in the second half. Fantastic turn of pace and neat footwork. Could have went to ground and presented the ball for teammates rather than ambitious offload attempts. Serious prospect.
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Marco Lazzaroni
INPHO / Ryan Byrne
INPHO / Ryan Byrne / Ryan Byrne
Not much to get excited about from an Italian perspective but the flanker looked lively. Earned his team a couple of turnovers. Won a penalty but conceded another for not releasing. Combative presence. Out-half Filippo Buscema looked good in open play but his goalkicking attempts were poor. For Italy, the search for an accurate 10 off the tee continues.
Cian Kelleher
INPHO / Ryan Byrne
INPHO / Ryan Byrne / Ryan Byrne
Ireland’s best player on a fair to middling night for many of his teammates. Consistently made ground and used quick feet to skip around opponents. The Leinster winger his try well in the first half and almost got through for a second before Byrne got over.
Sean O’Brien
INPHO / Ryan Byrne
INPHO / Ryan Byrne / Ryan Byrne
Led his team well in the absence of Dan Leavy. Caught well at the lineout apart from one blip. Opted to kick penalties in the first half but instructed his out-half to go for the corners as Ireland hunted tries. A strong ball carrier and a nuisance at the breakdown for Italy.
Max Abbott
INPHO / Ryan Byrne
INPHO / Ryan Byrne / Ryan Byrne
The hooker has been a solid dart thrower all championship and proved so again last night. Linked up well with Peter Dooley to make ground for Kelleher’s try and pitched in as an extra loose forward when his team needed numbers at the breakdown.
5 Under 20s that shone in Ireland's canter over Italy
IRELAND U20s BEAT their Italian counterparts 18-0 at Dubarry Park on Friday night to pick spirits up after a pair of defeats to Wales and England. The Wolfpuppies dominated the tie and left a further 20 points out on the field by the final whistle.
There were a number of highlights for U20s coach Mike Ruddock ahead of a final day trip to take on France at Stade Maurice Trelut.
Adam Byrne
The Kildare native made numerous incisions up the left wing and showed up on the right to score his try in the second half. Fantastic turn of pace and neat footwork. Could have went to ground and presented the ball for teammates rather than ambitious offload attempts. Serious prospect.
Marco Lazzaroni
Not much to get excited about from an Italian perspective but the flanker looked lively. Earned his team a couple of turnovers. Won a penalty but conceded another for not releasing. Combative presence. Out-half Filippo Buscema looked good in open play but his goalkicking attempts were poor. For Italy, the search for an accurate 10 off the tee continues.
Cian Kelleher
Ireland’s best player on a fair to middling night for many of his teammates. Consistently made ground and used quick feet to skip around opponents. The Leinster winger his try well in the first half and almost got through for a second before Byrne got over.
Sean O’Brien
Led his team well in the absence of Dan Leavy. Caught well at the lineout apart from one blip. Opted to kick penalties in the first half but instructed his out-half to go for the corners as Ireland hunted tries. A strong ball carrier and a nuisance at the breakdown for Italy.
Max Abbott
The hooker has been a solid dart thrower all championship and proved so again last night. Linked up well with Peter Dooley to make ground for Kelleher’s try and pitched in as an extra loose forward when his team needed numbers at the breakdown.
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Adam Byrne Cian Kelleher Six Nations U20 Six Nations max abbott Mike Ruddock Rugby Ireland U20s Italy U20s wolfpuppies