British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
Wales narrowly defeat Irish U-20s
Both teams always knew that this game was going to be a clash of the Titans. But they were perhaps still not prepared for the intensity of the match up and as the final score line of 19-17 to Wales shows, there was certainly a lot of excitement on the park.
The Irish got off to a great start with winger Michael Keating scoring a try within the first six minutes. Unfortunately Ian McKinley missed the conversion and a further set back occurred when the team lost its captain Paul O’Mahony due to injury.
The Welsh immediately went on the offensive and kept up a battering ram style of play against the Irish. A solo effort by Mathew Jarvis resulted in 14 points for the Welsh and a try from Justin Tipuric sealed the deal.
Both teams proved their mettle in the match but at the end of the day it was simply that the Welsh had the greater advantage. According to the Irish players the Welsh were better on the day when it came to maximizing their opportunities and they made sure that Ireland paid for their mistakes.
This result means that the Irish U-20s will now face Samoa in the play off for 7th and 8th place on Sunday.
IRELAND U-20: Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster); David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Danny Barnes (UCC/Munster), Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Michael Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen Munster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Thomas Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Adam Macklin (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), Brian O’Hara (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt).
Replacements used: David O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster) for O’Mahony (6 mins, inj), Joe Moran (Galwegians/Connacht) for O’Hara (41, inj), Andrew Burke (Garryowen/Munster) for Barnes (46), Matthew Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Murray (56), Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster) for Macklin (61), Jonny Shiels (Queen’s University/Ulster) for Madigan (75).
Not used: David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster).
WALES U-20: Daniel Newton; James Loxton, Jason Harries, Ashley Beck, Rhys Downes; Matthew Jarvis, Lloyd Williams; Aaron Coundley, Rhys Williams, Scott Andrews (capt), James King, Ashley Sweet, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Jenkins, James Thomas.
Replacements used: Scott Williams for Beck (17 mins), David Langdon for S Williams (58), Rory Pitman for Sweet (65), Josh Navidi for Jenkins (75).
Not used: Craig Attwell, Simon Gardiner, James Leadbeater.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France).