Ireland book their place in Under-20s semi-finals

Ireland 35 Georgia 7

It was a hurdle crossed with more difficulty than the scoreline would suggest, but Ireland’s place in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Under-20 Championship was never in doubt once Georgia were reduced to 14 men after just eight minutes.

The Georgians, appearing this championship for the first time and who will host it next year, battled bravely against the odds and made Nigel Carolan’s men fight all the way.

But the result was never really in doubt after the first quarter, even if it took until the final play for Ireland to secure their first bonus point of the competition.

It’s the first time Ireland have won all three pool games and they will now regroup for Monday’s semi-final against Argentina.

“It’s the first time in our history that we have won all pool games so it’s very pleasing, not least as it contained the Six Nations grand slam winners and reigning world champions,” said Carolan.

“But we always knew today was going to be a difficult game for us. We were concerned about what Georgia can bring. Very direct, very physical. The fact that we made so many changes, we were going to lack that cohesion but the boys turned in a very good performance and should be proud of their efforts.”

Fears of a backlash from a Georgian team who lost their opening two matches without scoring a try were realised when they opened up a 7-0 lead after five minutes.

They went to touch with a penalty and it made it clear they were going to have an early crack at an Irish team which made 13 changes to the side which beat champions New Zealand on Saturday.

Captain Vasil Lobzhanidze, the first choice scrum-half for the Georgian senior side and who played in the World Cup in England last year, spotted a gap and dived over.

Outhalf Davit Modzgvrishvili converted but the wind was taken out of the Georgians sails by a massive double blow three minutes later.

Irish winger Hugo Keenan showed deft feet out wide to step inside and finish off a fine move which also involved the other winger Terry Kennedy and outhalf Johnny McPhillips.

Referee Craig Evans went to the TMO on the advice of one of his touch judges and Georgian lock Ilia Spanderashvili was harshly sent off for a lash out at Ireland lock Sean O’Connor when they challenged on the ground.

McPhillips converted and two penalties from the former England U-18 international edged Ireland in front with a couple of penalties to lead 13-7 after 17 minutes.

The Georgians refused to give up despite being down a man and Ireland, who lost number eight Kelvin Brown and flanker Kelvin Bloomer to injury, were made work hard to extend their lead.

But their patience was rewarded with a multi-phase move four minutes from the break which was finished by out-half McPhillips and converted by him for a 20-7 interval lead.

Ireland continued to dominate after the restart and a 54th minute penalty from the outhalf further stretched the lead and Terry Kennedy notched the third try a few minutes later.

It took Ireland until the final play of the match to secure the bonus point victory as replacement Andrew Porter crossed and full-back Brett Connon converted to round off a good victory.

Ireland U-20: B Connon (Newcastle Falcons); T Kennedy (St. Mary's College/Leinster), J O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), P Kiernan (c) (UCC/Munster), H Keenan (UCD/Leinster); J McPhillips (Queen's University/Ulster), N Saunders (Epsom College/Exiles); J Bollard (Dublin University / Leinster), V O'Brien (Cork Con / Munster), V Abdaladze (Clontarf / Leinster); E Mintern (Cork Constitution/Munster), S O'Connor (Cashel / Munster); G Jones (UCD / Leinster), C Boomer (Ballymena/Ulster), K Brown (Shannon / Munster). Replacements: M Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Brown (18), C Gallagher (Sligo/Connacht) for Boomer (25-31), A Porter (UCD/Leinster) for Bollard (49), A Coyle (Naas/Leinster) for Abdaladze (49), C Gallagher (Sligo/Connacht) for Jones (59), S Daly (Cork Con/Munster) for O'Brien (64), J Stockadale for McPhillips (64), S Kerins (Sligo/Connacht) for Saunders (73), A McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster) for Gallagher (73).

Georgia: M Modebadze; L Miminoshvili, G Koshadze, G Kvesladze, A Merkvilishvili; D Modzgvrishvili, V Lobzhanidze; T Mataradze, L Sajaia, L Tabidze; M Babunashvili, O Giorgadze; I Spanderashvili, G Tsutskiride, B Gorgadze. Replacements: D Epremidze for Giorgadze (25), I Tskhadadze for Babunashvili (39), G Melikidze for Tabidze (54), G Afrasidze for Miminoshvili (55), R Shanidzefor Koshadze (57), S Iluridze for Lobzhanidze (70), L Goginava for Mataradze (74), G Khuroshvili for Sajaia (74).

Referee: C Evans (Wales).