Injury-hit Ireland bow out of U-20 World Cup with a whimper

in La Roche-Sur-Yon

Ireland U-20 coach Mike Ruddock said that his players will have benefitted enormously from the Junior World Championship despite their campaign fizzling out in France as England secured the title by defeating Wales 23-15.

Ireland had to settle for eighth place after a second-half comeback yesterday came up short against at Australia side they had defeated in the opening game.

“In terms of player development this has been a very good tournament, a good learning curve for these young players. Of course we would have hoped to be at least top four but I couldn’t fault the effort of the players.

"It is a competition with very tight margins but that, in turn, is great in helping players develop," said Ruddock.

Early stage
Ireland, playing against the strong breeze, were under the kosh from an early stage and after falling behind to two penalties they left themselves with a mountain to climb when winger Harry Parker got over for Australia's first try after 22 minutes.

Ireland, with three players ruled out yesterday due to injury, lost winger Adam Byrne before the game through injury and eight minutes in lock Gavin Thornbury was carried off.

The Wallabies extended their lead to 20-0 after 27 minutes through captain Curtis Browning but Ireland eventually managed to build the phases and respond.

A penalty count of 9-4 in Ireland’s favour at the interval could have been much greater but Ireland got off the mark shortly before the break when Rory Scannell converted a penalty in front of the posts .

Ireland got a great start to the second half with another penalty from Scannell before the centre set up Rory Scholes for a try in the right corner which reduced the deficit to 20-11.

But Ireland just could not turn possession into tries after that and had to be content with a brace of penalties from Scannell before the Wallabies wrapped up the issue with a try from Alex Northam in the final quarter.