Meenan in form

Mark Meenan helped himself to 26 points as defending champions Ireland easily beat Georgia in the first round of the IRB/FIRA…

Mark Meenan helped himself to 26 points as defending champions Ireland easily beat Georgia in the first round of the IRB/FIRA World Junior Championship at Dunvant, Wales.

The out-half was the dominant force in an Irish performance that included seven tries.

Meenan grabbed two of them and also kicked four conversions and a penalty as the Irish set up a second round match with either Italy or Chile on Monday.

Full back Alex Cahill ran in two tries before being replaced late in the second half and there was another for the highly effective Irish back line from centre Ronan Murphy.

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The only points the Georgians, who won the second division title in France last year, could muster was a second half penalty from outhalf Sergei Yachvili.

France were forced to work hard to set-up a second round tie with South Africa as the overcame Scotland 21-10 at Newport.

A very disappointing England side had little answer to the speed and cohesion of a positive and adventurous Welsh side and went down by 39-7 at Neath last night.