Under-20 Six Nations: Ireland 3 England 19
The overwhelming emotion from Ireland’s post-match review will be one of regret, an opportunity lost to beat an England outfit that contained 10 World Cup winners before a record crowd for the biggest home attendance ever, 8,800 spectators, that braved the rain and wind on a filthy night.
The home side were on a 13-match unbeaten streak in the Six Nations – they drew with England 32-32 last year in Bath – and during that time won two Six Nations Grand Slams and finished second last year. They hadn’t ever lost a match at Musgrave Park and their last home defeat was in Donnybrook in 2018 when they lost 41-38 to Wales
Ireland played against 13 men for 10 minutes when England flanker Joel Kpoku received a red card for a high shot on the excellent Eoghan Smyth, while captain Tom Burrow followed for a yellow card offence soon after.
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England showed admirable grit in seeing out that time when short-handed and their superior power and resilience defensively frustrated the home side. In truth, Ireland will need to look to themselves, especially the indiscipline and the inaccuracy that tortured them relentlessly.
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Centre Connor Fahy was outstanding, Billy Corrigan, Alex Mullan and the backrow of Michael Foy, Bobby Power and Éanna McCarthy weren’t far behind, but just that little lack of composure and precision ultimately cost them.
Ireland started in superb fashion, winning a tap down from the kick-off and then after a couple quick rucks, secondrow Corrigan accelerated through a gap. Although he took contact rather than spotting a supporting team-mate, it was an eloquent statement of intent.
England hunted the tackle in pairs and there were some thunderous hits, an early reminder that telegraphing intent in the pass would carry a huge tariff for the receiver. A forward pass brought an end to the home side’s bright opening.
Ireland, playing into the wind, also received a warning that kicking loosely would see them lose swathes of territory in those exchanges. There were some early bright notes, Charlie Molony’s superb catch, some of the running lines, the tackling, and in the first two scrums winning a free-kick and a penalty.
England took the lead on 12 minutes, Ireland caught offside under pressure, and outhalf Benjamin Coen did the needful. Ireland’s response was immediate albeit not on the scoreboard, with Sam Wisniewski making a break before receiving a high shot from England fullback Jack Kinder. However, in the build-up Irish centre Eoghan Smyth received a shoulder to the head from Kpoku. The new law is an ass.
It was high, late, with no wrap and after consultation with TMO Tual Trainini, referee Jermey Rozier showed a red card. Under the new rules, it is a 20-minute sanction, and the Racing player was replaced by George Timmons after the allotted time elapsed. Ireland lost loosehead prop Alex Usanov to a leg injury. Having kicked to the corner rather than the posts, Ireland conceded a penalty for blocking at the lineout and then another at a scrum.
The home side continued to show glimpses of their attacking prowess, centre Connor Fahy particularly impressive, but also their toughness and courage on the gainline; some of the collisions were filling-loosening.
England lost their captain Tom Burrow to a yellow card for illegally interfering with Clarke Logan at a ruck, but the home side failed to capitalise against the 13 men, first kicking the penalty into touch and goal and then compounding that with the concession of another 30 seconds later for a ruck infringement.
Coen thumped it over to push England 6-0 in front, but Wisnewski reduced the deficit on 30 minutes after the visitors transgressed at a ruck. Having clawed their way back, the home side’s discipline let them down again, the Irish outhalf was correctly pinged for a high tackle, his counterpart Coen unerring again from long range.
Ireland’s ability to work their way into the English 22 was impressive but the lack of accuracy when they got there was frustrating, turnovers and penalties allowing the visitors to escape unscathed. Even after a shemozzle in the in-goal area, the promise once again perished on a handling error. England had been restored to 15 players in time for the five-metre scrum.
Ireland needed to be composed and clear-eyed on the resumption, be better disciplined. Kicking the ball dead from their 10-metre line and two penalties conceded in quick succession weren’t part of the plan. Wisniewski missed a difficult penalty chance but the home side’s capacity for self-inflicted wounds was injurious to ambition.
The honest integrity of effort was undermined by the capacity for a misstep in thought or action that offered up possession and penalties to the visitors. There was a notable moment on 66 minutes when Shannon’s Oisín Minogue was introduced, one half of the first mother – Rosie Foley – and son to play for Ireland.
England were awarded a penalty try after the home side illegally thwarted them on the line, costing them a player too. Ireland had two clearcut chances to grab a try with the superb Michel Foy denied twice, first by a fine last-ditch tackle and then by an unsympathetic pass when he would have enjoyed an unencumbered run-in. It kind of summed up the night.
SCORING SEQUENCE – 12 mins: Coen pen, 0-3; 28: Coen pen, 0-6; 30: Wisniewski pen, 3-6; 35: Coen pen, 3-9. Half-time: 3-9. 67: penalty try, 3-16; 78: Coen pen, 3-19.
IRELAND UNDER-20: C Molony (UCD); D Moloney (Blackrock College), C Fahy (Clontarf), E Smyth (Cork Constitution), C Mangan (Blackrock College); S Wisniewski (Old Belvedere), C Logan (QUB); A Usanov (Clontarf), H Walker (QUB), A Mullan (Blackrock College); M Ronan (Old Wesley); Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley); M Foy (UCC), B Power (Galwegians), É McCarthy (Galwegians, capt).
Replacements: B Bohan (Galway Corinthians) for Usanov (14 mins); T McAllister (Ballynahinch) for Mullan, C Magee (Banbridge) for Walker (both 50); G O’Leary Kareem (UCC) for Smyth (54); D Green (QUB) for Wisniewski (61); Ó Minogue (Shannon) for Power, D Walsh (Terenure College) for Roan (both 66); A Doyle (Old Wesley) for Logan (67).
Yellow card: Ó Minogue (67 mins).
ENGLAND UNDER-20: J Kinder (Leicester Tigers); J Bracken (Saracens), A Hall (Saracens), N Allison (Exeter Chiefs), C Griffin (Bath); B Coen (Exeter Chiefs), A McParland (Northampton Saints); R McEachran (Sale Sharks), K Tuipolotu (Bath), V Sela (Bath); Ó Sodeke (Saracens), T Burrow (Sale Sharks, capt); J Kpoku (Racing 92), H Pollock (Northampton Saints), K James (Exeter Chiefs).
Replacements: L Friday (Harlequins) for McParland (25 mins); G Timmons (Bath) for Kpoku (35, red card); J Bellamy (Harlequins) for Kinder (70); L Gulley (Exeter Chiefs) for Tuipolotu (73); N Lilley (Exeter Chiefs) for Allison (75); T Ramont (Sale Sharks) for Sela (77); Ó Scola (Northampton Saints) for McEachran, A Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints) for Sodeke (both 78).
Yellow card: T Burrow (25 mins).
Red card: J Kpoku (14-24 mins).
Referee: J Rozier (France).
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