Ireland will play either Wales or England in the fifth place play-off in the Under-21 World Cup in France after a five-try win over Argentina in Vichy this afternoon.
Having been beaten by Argentina in the pool stages Mark McDermott's side were out for revenge and were guided to victory by outhalf Kieran Hallet who touched down twice, converted four and kicked three penalties.
Ireland opened the scoring early on through Fergus McFadden who crossed unopposed after some neat work from centre partner Tom Gleeson. Hallet added the conversion and then a penalty shortly afterwards opened the lead to 10.
Hallet and Santiago Fernandez traded penalties before the break and Ireland went in with a 13-3 lead.
They were under pressure from the restart however, when, three minutes in, the Argentine scrum set up a break on the left for lock Benjamin Macome to score before Fernandez converted.
With their lead at just three points the Irish did not buckle however, and restored the advantage when hooker Sean Cronin capitalised on a loose ball and raced over for a try which Hallet added to again. Another penalty from the outhalf opened the lead to 23-8.
Argentine scrumhalf Francisco Albarracin touched down minutes later. Fernandez found the target with the conversion before Halett scored his first on the hour.
Gonzalo Sarasqueta try cancelled that out but Hallet scored his second before Stuart Philpott, on for Cronin, added Ireland's fifth and capped an enormous win for the young side.
Ireland: F Carr; I Hanly, T Gleeson, F McFadden, M Williams, K Hallett, M D'Arcy; D Hurley (C Black 70mins), S Cronin (S Philpott 70mins), D Ryan, D McGowan, D Toner, M Essex (D Laffan 70mins), D Pollock (capt), S O'Brien
Argentina: G Sarasqueta; F Amelong, B Urdapilleta, M Fernadez Gill (G Feijoo 77mins), F Meyrelles; S Fernandez (A Figuerola 76mins), F Albarracin (capt); L Francisco Piccinini (F Gomez Kodela 47mins), M Cortese, P Ledesma (J Avila 52mins), B Macome (F Angelinetti 54mins), A Smidth, A Creevy (N Bruzzone 64mins), J Manuel Roan, J Brinnand
Referee: T Hirabayashi (Japan)
Scorers
Ireland
Tries: McFadden, Cronin, Hallet (2), Philpott
Conversions: Hallet (4)
Penalties: Hallet (3)
Argentina
Tries: Macome, Albarracin, Sarasqueta
Conversion: Fernandez
