MIKE RUDDOCK’S WOLFPUPPIES could not deny a rampant France team a Grand Slam win despite their courageous second half comeback in Tarbes.
Ireland trailed 10-3 at the break but staged a stirring revival in the second half. A Frankie Taggart try made it 13-13 going into the final eight minutes. French scrum-half Baptiste Serin edged his team in front with a penalty and there was a late, controversial TMO try decision in favour of hooker Florian Ardiaca.
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Conor McKeon put Ireland 3-0 up after five minutes as he slotted over a penalty from 40 metres out. France struck back on 10 minutes as Ireland were penalised at the line-out. Serin nailed his kick.
Ireland were convinced they had scored a try soon after but referee Lloyd Linton adjudged the flanker to be held up over the home line. France had greater success, on 26 minutes, when they worked a nice line-out move and Romain Ruffenach powered over. He lost his jersey in the process but dotted the ball down for an all important score. Serin added the extras.
RTE
RTE
Connacht flanker Moloney was replaced by Taggart as Ruddock was forced to make an injury enforced switch. Ireland rallied just before the half hour mark and Adam Byrnes was hauled over the touchline, a yard short of getting over in the left-hand corner. Serin missed a 37th minute penalty and was denied by covering Irish fullback Cian Kelleher after a smart chip over the top.
Peter Dooley’s stunning burst into the French 22, followed by an excellent offload, set up Taggart for a try that had the hosts rocking. Ross Byrne, who had kicked a penalty minutes beforehand, converted and the game was level. Ireland would have been confident of denying France the Grand Slam but Serin and the TMO combined to give France the spoils.
Ireland U20 (v France): Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne, Leinster); Alex Wootten (Garryowen/Munster), Dan Goggin (Young Munster/Munster), Peter Robb (Old Belvedere, Leinster), Adam Byrne (UCD, Leinster); Conor McKeon (Lansdowne, Leinster), Jack Cullen (Bruff, Munster); Peter Dooley (Lansdowne, Leinster), Max Abbott (Cork Con, Munster), Rory Burke (Cork Con, Munster); Sean O’Brien (Galwegians, Connacht, capt.), Ross Malony; Peadar Timmins (both UCD, Leinster), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht), Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohs, Munster).
Replacements: Sean McNulty (UCD, Munster), Denis Coulsen (Lansdowne, Leinster), Oisin Heffernan (Lansdowne, Leinster), Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Frankie Taggart (Belfast ‘Quins, Ulster), Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne (both UCD, Leinster), David Busby (QUB, Ulster).
Courageous Ireland U20s fall short as France clinch Grand Slam
France 23
Ireland 13
MIKE RUDDOCK’S WOLFPUPPIES could not deny a rampant France team a Grand Slam win despite their courageous second half comeback in Tarbes.
Ireland trailed 10-3 at the break but staged a stirring revival in the second half. A Frankie Taggart try made it 13-13 going into the final eight minutes. French scrum-half Baptiste Serin edged his team in front with a penalty and there was a late, controversial TMO try decision in favour of hooker Florian Ardiaca.
Conor McKeon put Ireland 3-0 up after five minutes as he slotted over a penalty from 40 metres out. France struck back on 10 minutes as Ireland were penalised at the line-out. Serin nailed his kick.
Ireland were convinced they had scored a try soon after but referee Lloyd Linton adjudged the flanker to be held up over the home line. France had greater success, on 26 minutes, when they worked a nice line-out move and Romain Ruffenach powered over. He lost his jersey in the process but dotted the ball down for an all important score. Serin added the extras.
Connacht flanker Moloney was replaced by Taggart as Ruddock was forced to make an injury enforced switch. Ireland rallied just before the half hour mark and Adam Byrnes was hauled over the touchline, a yard short of getting over in the left-hand corner. Serin missed a 37th minute penalty and was denied by covering Irish fullback Cian Kelleher after a smart chip over the top.
Peter Dooley’s stunning burst into the French 22, followed by an excellent offload, set up Taggart for a try that had the hosts rocking. Ross Byrne, who had kicked a penalty minutes beforehand, converted and the game was level. Ireland would have been confident of denying France the Grand Slam but Serin and the TMO combined to give France the spoils.
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland).
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