British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
U20 unbeaten no more
The Irish U-20 side hoped to try and achieve a Grand Slam as the Senior side is trying to do in the Six Nations. While the senior side might still achieve this, the hopes of the Irish U-20 side were dashed when they took on an in-form Scotland this week.
The Scottish proved that they are a force to be reckoned with and they continued to build on their great performance against Wales last weekend, proving that this was no fluke. The Scottish were motivated and organized and no doubt they enjoyed having the benefit of home ground advantage. Whatever the cause, they were too much for the Irish to handle and the final score was 35-20 to the Scottish.
It is difficult to understand why Ireland failed to perform as the team seemed as if they were definitely good enough to beat the Scottish. It is clear that BMT on the day is still crucial and certainly these young players will come to learn this with the more match experience they get.
SCOTLAND UNDER-20: Robbie McGowan (Stirling County); Paul Loudon (Durham University/Edinburgh Accies), Ashleah McCulloch (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby), Robbie Johnston (Leeds University/Leeds Carnegie), Grant Anderson (Ayr); Andrew White (Glasgow Hawks), Henry Pyrgos (Loughborough University); Gavin Cameron (Boroughmuir), Finlay Gilles (Heriot’s), David Morton (Bridgwater), Nick Campbell (Glasgow Hawks), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) (capt), Struan Dewar (Heriot’s), Chris Fusaro (Heriot’s), Stuart McInally (Watsonians).
Replacements: Ryan McConnell (Peebles), Douglas Orr (Haddington), James Taylor (Loughborough University/Dundee HSFP), Tom Drennan (Edinburgh Academicals), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks), Peter Horne (West of Scotland), Adam McKenzie (Northumbria University).
IRELAND UNDER-20: David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen/Munster), Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster), Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Michael Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Matthew Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster); Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Thomas Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Ciaran Ruddock (Neath/Exiles), James Sandford (Queen’s University/Ulster), Rhys Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Adam Macklin (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster), Michael Noone (Seapoint/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Andrew Burke (Garryowen/Munster), Shane Gahan (Lansdowne/Leinster).
Referee: Andrew Small (England)