Ireland under 20s, World Finalists
Ireland under 20s have secured there place in The World Rugby under 20 Championship Final against the old enemy England at the AJ Bell Stadium this Saturday at 7pm. The manner of yesterday’s win was made all the more impressive by the fact that Ireland were ruthless and when they sniffed a chance they took it. They led 21-7 at the half time break.
This side has shown a ruthless edge that not many Irish teams have across all sports. They started their campaign 2 weeks ago and after going 17-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes vs Wales nobody would have thought about the adventure that was about to take place. Since then they have defeated Wales Grand Slam winners this season, destroyed annual World Champions at this level New Zealand which might I add hasn’t gone down too well south of the equator with their coach Scott Robertson claiming that teams in the Northern Hemisphere don’t want to play rugby and only southern hemisphere’s sides have come to play rugby during this tournament.
This is of course nonsense and sour grapes, Ireland and England who have made Saturday’s final have played some really open expansive rugby and for Ireland in particular to do this is so refreshing. Nigel Carolan can take huge credit for the way the team has played in the last two weeks. Of course the forwards led by James Ryan, Max Deegan and Andrew Porter have given Ireland the perfect platform to build from.
Scrums and line outs have been such a real strength for Ireland where they haven’t taken a backward step in any of their games apart from maybe a 15 minute spell in the Georgian game. Guys like Stephen Kerins and Jonny Mc Phillips came into their own yesterday and owned the gain line and this combined with some beautiful lines of running from the likes of Hugo Keenan, Matthew Byrne and Jacob Stockdale. The centre partnership of ShaneDaly and Conor O Brien have combined so well to give the ammunition to the back three to finish off the chances they create.
England will of course be favourites to take the title as they are at home and with Harry Mallinder steering the ship along with Jonny Williams and Joe Marchent in the centre. They again have a big pack and a good half back pairing that has seen them make another World Final.
Ireland finished there Six Nations campaign with wins over Italy and Scotland alongside a comeback win over England in Newcastle. They have confidence going into this final which is a huge help. Ireland last made a World Final at under 21 level back in 2004. In that team was Jamie Heaslip , Tomas O Leary to name two players involved at that Championship.
From a local point of view, there is a man by the name of Ben Betts involved with this team after getting his chance in the opening minute of the Welsh game after an injury to the unfortunate Conor Kenny opened the door for Ben to take his chance and by god he has taken full advantage of it. He has nailed down his place in the front row alongside Andrew Porter and Adam Mc Burney.
Saturday will be a huge day for Irish rugby , where the under 20s are in a World Final , the Senior men go for a series win in South Africa and the Irish women 7s team begin their quest for Olympic qualification in the last qualifying event in UCD.
It promises to be a great day and let’s hope we get some positive results to celebrate. All the very best to Nigel Carolan and his squad also Joe Schmidt and his charges along with Anthony Eddy and his team that take to the field from 10am this Saturday.
By
Cian Mc Gibney
21/06/2016
