Match Report: Ireland U20's down Junior Wallabies
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In what was expected to be a tough encounter in the World Rugby U20 Championship between the Australian and Ireland, proved to be manageable task for the Irish as they walked away with a comfortable 30-10 victory Paarl earlier today.
Although the Irish were first to put points on the board through a Sam Prendergast penalty to lead 3-0, the opening 15 minutes both sides looked resolute with both defences looking impenetrable while attacking with lethal intent.
The crowd would have to wait until the 25th minute for the first try of the game which came through Junior Wallabies outside centre, Henry O’Donnell who latched on to pass from scrumhalf Teddy Wilson after inside centre David Vaihu broke the line. Fly-half Jack Bowen converted the try to take a 7-3 lead.
The Irish would respond twice. Firstly, through left-wing James Nicholson in the 30th minute, who finished off in the corner after to put the Northerners within two points with Prendergast failing to convert the extra two points. Prendergast would not make two in a row, converting a penalty on the stroke of halftime after the Junior Wallabies succumbed to a 10-phase onslaught from the men in green, to secure a 10-11 lead at the half.
The second half began with many handling errors due to the rainy conditions, however it was the Irish who got off to the better start. A penalty against the men from down under saw them concede a try in the 52nd minute, when scrumhalf Fintan Gunne’s quick pass of a ruck found eighth-man Brian Gleeson who powered over the try line. Prendergast converted to put Irish eight point clear. 10 minutes later they were back over the whitewash this time through hooker Gus McCarthy who made the most of a lineout drive.
There were a few injuries as both open side flankers Ruadhan Quinn and Ned Slack-Smith clashed heads and were taken off. Irish substitute Rory Telfer was sin binned in the 77th minute for a dangerous tackle, which was upgraded to a red card after review. However, the one-man advantage would prove fruitless as the fighting Irish sealed the game with a try from substitute Diarmuid Mangan crossed the line followed by a Jack Oliver conversion to seal a comfortable win.
