The Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC) found their form in the second half to a win a thrilling 10-try U-20 Six Nations opener, with a James Nicholson brace helping them to beat Wales 44-27.
2023 UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1:
WALES UNDER-20s 27 IRELAND UNDER-20s 44, Stadiwm CSM
Scorers: Wales: Tries: Louie Hennessey, Llien Morgan 2, Sam Scarfe; Cons: Dan Edwards 2; Pen: Dan Edwards
Ireland: Tries: Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Paddy McCarthy, Mark Nicholson 2, Ruadhán Quinn, Henry McErlean; Cons: Sam Prendergast 3, Harry West; Pens: Sam Prendergast 2
HT: Wales 15 Ireland 14
Having trailed 15-7 early on, Richie Murphy’s largely new-look team gradually took control with Sam Prendergast, who kicked 12 points, player-of-the-match Brian Gleeson and Diarmuid Mangan leading the charge.
Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Paddy McCarthy both touched down to bookend the first half’s scoring, as the Irish pack used a couple of powerful surges to show glimpses of their quality.
Wales’ silky backs were proving a handful, ensuring a 15-14 half-time lead for them, but an early Sam Scarfe score, shortly after Dan Edwards’ sin-binning, sparked the best out of the Murphy’s side.
Rewarded for their direct play and improved offloading, they put together 23 points without reply, including those tries for Nicholson, who had moved to the wing, and Ruadhán Quinn also stormed over for the bonus point try.
Even though Llien Morgan hit back, Ireland, who sit top of the table after round one, signed off with a last-gasp sixth try. Replacement Henry McErlean narrowly avoided a knock-on as he grounded the ball past the 80-minute mark.
The final 40 minutes showed what Murphy’s youngsters are capable of, and with 17 players newly-capped at this level, they are looking forward to hosting France at Musgrave Park next Friday in what is sure to be a humdinger of a match.
Number 8 Gleeson recovered from a knock-on from the kick-off to force a turnover, as part of a choke tackle, and he also carried well off a subsequent scrum. However, Wales were the early aggressors at a noisy Stadiwm CSM.
Archie Hughes was held up under the Irish posts by John Devine, while Hugh Cooney intercepted a pass out wide as the hosts continued to make the running.
Ireland were first on the scoreboard, though, as despite a sixth-minute lineout going loose, Mangan combined with captain Gus McCarthy to break down the blindside. O’Tighearnaigh was up in support and then popped up a couple of phases later to barge over.
Out-half Prendergast’s well-struck conversion was matched by his opposite number Edwards, who drew Wales level after a Cameron Winnett break and Hughes’ quick pass to put Louie Hennessey over in the left corner.
Handling errors were costing Ireland, with an otherwise sharp Fintan Gunne having knocked on from the restart, and another spritely Welsh attack led to Edwards making it 10-7.
They ended the first quarter with an eight-point advantage, winger Morgan flying over in the right corner after a couple of brilliant offloads from Hennessey, who stood out in midfield, and Winnett had created the opportunity.
With Gunne and his pack making some key tackles, Ireland held the Welsh at bay nearing the half hour mark. Cooney brought down Edwards with a momentum-shifting tackle, with the visitors then earning back-to-back penalties.
Responding to a promising maul that was eventually turned over, the Irish forwards won a scrum penalty and made the pressure count. Tighthead McCarthy stretched out to score with Prendergast’s kick closing the gap to a single point.
Ireland increased their share of possession and territory leading up to the interval, but let Wales off the hook when a crooked lineout throw ruined a try-scoring chance created by a James McNabney run.
Wales also failed to capitalise on a Hennessey break, the unforced errors mounting for both sides but Ireland’s accuracy returned as their forwards beat a path towards the try-line.
Gleeson broke menacingly off a maul and busy centre Cooney was stopped short twice, the last incident seeing Edwards carded for a high tackle. Scrappy ball ended with McNabney being held up.
Wales’ execution was top notch when their backs were back in full flow, exposing the narrow Irish defence as Winnett and Morgan flooded through and scrum half Hughes was an excellent link man to send hooker Scarfe over.
That unconverted effort was swiftly cancelled out, however, as Ireland managed to punish a Welsh knock-on at 20-14 down. Prendergast swung the ball wide for Nicholson to step inside a defender and ground the ball despite the scrambling cover.
Prendergast’s reliable right boot edged Murphy’s charges back in front and he tagged on a penalty, just as Wales returned to their full complement with Edwards back at out-half.
The margin was then out to nine points (29-20), some terrific handling in midfield – particularly by Paddy McCarthy, Prendergast and Gleeson – unleashing the backs and Nicholson fed the supporting Quinn to crash over past Edwards.
There were two converted scores between the sides when Prendergast worked his magic in the 65th minute. He jinked away from one defender and flicked a superb offload away as two more closed in on him. Nicholson was the beneficiary as he gleefully doubled his tally.
Prendergast went on to add a second penalty as Ireland tightened their grip on proceedings. Credit to Wales, they earned a deserved bonus point when Morgan crossed again at the end of another lung-busting attack.
Ireland’s bench made sure they finished this first round tie on a high, with replacement hooker Danny Sheahan hoovering up the ground down the left wing. When play swung back into midfield, McErlean squeezed over past Tom Florence’s tackle for Harry West to convert.
TIME LINE: 7 minutes – Ireland try: Conor O’Tighearnaigh – 0-5; conversion: Sam Prendergast – 0-7; 9 mins – Wales try: Louie Hennessey – 5-7; conversion: Dan Edwards – 7-7; 16 mins – Wales penalty: Dan Edwards – 10-7; 18 mins – Wales try: Llien Morgan – 15-7; conversion: missed by Dan Edwards – 15-7; 31 mins – Ireland try: Paddy McCarthy – 15-12; conversion: Sam Prendergast – 15-14; Half-time – Wales 15 Ireland 14; 49 mins – Wales yellow card: Dan Edwards; 52 mins – Wales try: Sam Scarfe – 20-14; conversion: missed by Archie Hughes – 20-14; 54 mins – Ireland try: James Nicholson – 20-19; conversion: Sam Prendergast – 20-21; 60 mins – Ireland penalty: Sam Prendergast – 20-24; 61 mins – Ireland try: Ruadhán Quinn – 20-29; conversion: missed by Sam Prendergast – 20-29; 65 mins – Ireland try: James Nicholson – 20-34; conversion: missed by Sam Prendergast – 20-34; 73 mins – Ireland penalty: Sam Prendergast – 20-37; 77 mins – Wales try: Llien Morgan – 25-37; conversion: Dan Edwards – 27-37; 80 mins – Ireland try: Henry McErlean – 27-42; conversion: Harry West – 27-44; Full-time – Wales 27 Ireland 44
WALES U-20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Llien Morgan (Ospreys), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Harri Ackerman (Dragons), Harri Houston ((Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Archie Hughes (Scarlets); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), Sam Scarfe (Dragons), Tomas Pritchard (Scarlets), Liam Edwards (Ospreys), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Ryan Woodman (Dragons) (capt), Luca Giannini (Scarlets), Huw Davies (Sale Sharks).
Replacements used: Owain Evans (RGC) for Green (28 mins), Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys) for Pritchard (54), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff) for L Edwards (60), Isaac Young (Scarlets) for Scarfe, Freddie Chapman (Ospreys) for Kelleher-Griffiths (both 67), Harri Williams (Scarlets) for Hughes, Tom Florence (Ospreys) for Houston (both 68), Harrison James (Cardiff) for Winnett (73).
IRELAND U-20: James Nicholson (UCD RFC/Leinster); Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby), Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster), John Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster); George Hadden (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster), Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent RFC/Munster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster).
Replacements used: Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster) for Anagu (45 mins), George Morris (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) for Hadden, Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) for McNabney (both (60), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC/Munster) for Quinn (67), Fiachna Barrett (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) for P McCarthy (70), Danny Sheahan (UCC RFC/Munster) for G McCarthy, Oscar Cawley (Naas RFC/Leinster) for Gunne, Harry West (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht) for Prendergast (all 73).
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Source: Irish Rugby