RUGBY IRB JUNIOR WORLD CUP:THEY WERE clinging on for dear life at times but the Irish under-20s can take solace from a game that ultimately slipped away off the back of two questionable decisions by French referee Jerome Garces in Japan yesterday.
New Zealand sealed victory with second-half tries by Winston Stanley and Shaun Treeby but it was the open challenge to the haka that ensured a bitter contest in front of 4,447 spectators at the Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya.
Officials attempted to restrain the green line as it approached the Maori war dance, strangely described as “foolhardy” and “ungracious” by veteran commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith despite similarities to French actions before the 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.
Clontarf winger Michael Keating almost touched down in the opening seconds after a chip by scrumhalf Matthew Healy but it was the Kiwis’ superior physicality that gradually began to tell. However, they only had an Aaron Cruden penalty to show for their first-half dominance, missing five kicks at goal in total.
Despite an excellent break by centre Nevin Spence, Ireland failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage after fullback Robbie Robertson was sinbinned for tackling Ian Madigan in the air.
Stanley rolled over for the first try 13 minutes into the second half; Garces initially signalling for a held-up ball before his touchjudge informed him otherwise. Roberston, New Zealand’s third place-kicker, made it 10-0 from wide out.
The second try came after Spence was incorrectly yellow-carded for counter-rucking with Treeby powering through a Shane Gahan tackle moments later.
Ireland face Uruguay in their final pool match on Saturday with captain Peter O’Mahony set to return from suspension.
SCORING SEQUENCE:12 mins: A Cruden pen, 3-0. Half-time. 53: W Stanley try, 8-0; R Robinson conv, 10-0; 63: S Treeby try, 15-0; R Robinson conv, 17-0.
IRELAND:I Madigan (Leinster); D Kearney (Leinster), N Spence (Ulster), E Sheridan (Leinster), M Keating (Leinster); I McKinley (Leinster), M Healy (Leinster); J McGrath (Leinster), T Sexton (Leinster), A Macklin (Ulster); C Ruddock (Neath/Exiles, capt), M Flanagan (Leinster); D Ryan (Leinster), B O'Hara (Munster), R Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles). Replacements: C Murray (Munster) for Healy, S Gahan (Leinster) for Sheridan (both 60 mins), D McGregor (Ulster) for Sexton, P McAllister (Ulster) for McGrath (both 65 mins), A Burke (Munster) for Kearney, D O'Callaghan (Munster) for O'Hara (both 70 mins), J McGrath for Macklin (72 mins), J Moran (Connacht) for Flanagan (78 mins).
NEW ZEALAND:R Robinson; N Tuitavake, W Stanley, T Taylor, Z Guildford; A Cruden (capt), F Wilson; W Ioane Afuvai, B Mitchell, M Fia; D Faleafa, L Price; T Boswell-Wakefield, B O'Connor, E Dixon. Replacements: L Talakai for W Afuvai (9 mins), S Treeby for T Taylor (60 mins), A Ryan for L Price, B Hall for T Boswell-Wakefield (both 64 mins), K Pisi Siaosi for Z Guildford (65 mins), S Tamati for B Mitchell, N Falamoe for F Wilson (both 70 mins).
Referee:Jerome Garces (France).
