Ireland save best until last with title in sight

Ireland Under-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:IRELAND ARE the Under-20 Six Nations Championship in all but name only following a wonderfully-entertaining demolition of Scotland at a sodden Dubarry Park last night.

England travel to play France tomorrow but must beat their hosts by 47 points if they are to pip Ireland to the underage crown. The home side last won the title in the Grand Slam season of 2007, having suffered the disappointment of being beaten on points’ differential last year.

The home side reserved arguably their most compelling attacking display for the final match, making light of the elements in Athlone, with rain falling from first whistle to last. Ireland scored five tries while outhalf James McKinney kicked five conversions and three penalties. The Scots started brightly but could not cope with the tempo and width the Irish put on their patterns.

It was an outstanding team performance, backs and forwards interchanging seamlessly, looking to keep the ball alive by shifting it before the tackle and then looking to support the next man. The pack provided the impetus around the fringes before Ireland filleted the Scottish midfield, particularly in the outside centre channel.

It was a night to celebrate the performance of the team but captain Rhys Ruddock, David O’Callaghan, Dominic Ryan were especially conspicuous up front while the backline was flourished individually and collectively.

If Ireland started a little sluggishly, primarily in their poor protection of ruck ball and not clearing-out aggressively enough, they gradually introduced an intensity to their performance. They dominated the scrum, forcing the Scots to concede penalties and possession, pilfered the odd lineout and gave their backline the type of platform they craved.

Once the home side offered a modicum of protection to scrumhalf John Cooney and speeded up the recycling process, they were able to break the gain-line initially through forwards like Stewart Maguire, David O’Callaghan, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan and then through the coruscating running of the three quarter line.

The midfield pairing of Nevin Spence and Eoin Griffin demonstrated power, pace and great footwork, choosing sumptuous lines to rip asunder the defence. Wings Tiernan O’Halloran and Simon Zebo were almost as effective while fullback Andrew Conway’s innate skills and predatory instincts captivated the crowd.

Spence grabbed a brace of tries before the interval. Conway had matched that achievement within four minutes of the restart but these were invariably superb team scores, where backs and forwards combined. Irish players came onto the ball late and at pace, forcing the Scottish defence to gamble unproductively. The visitors could not close the gaps in time.

When Conway crossed for his second try, Ireland led 37-12 and the result had long ceased to be an issue. Outhalf McKinney was amassing tidy statistics with the placed ball and even when he did miss it was only by a whisker: two failed penalty attempts hit an upright.

Ireland coach Allen Clarke won’t have been happy with the number of penalties they conceded and the fact that number eight Paddy Butler was sent to the bin as the home side refused to heed repeated warnings.

The only way the Scots were ever going to score on the night was through the boot of their outhalf Alex Blair, who posted five penalties in a fine kicking exhibition. Clarke’s cavils will have been minor ones though on a night when his team expressed themselves in the most eloquent manner. They try of the night was probably that of O’Halloran because it championed the virtues that all but guarantee the Irish team the Under 20 Six Nations Championship title: sharp counter-attacking, pace, good support play and dexterous handling.

It may have been a miserable night weather wise but it proved a hugely enjoyable occasion for players and supporters alike.

Scoring sequence: 4 mins: McKinney penalty, 3-0; 6: Blair penalty, 3-3; 8: Blair penalty, 3-6; 13: McKinney penalty; 15: Spence try, McKinney conversion, 10-6; 24: McKinney penalty, 16-6; 31: Spence try, McKinney conversion, 23-6; 38: Blair penalty, 23-9. 40: Conway try, McKinney conversion, 30-9. Half-time: 30-9. 42: Blair penalty, 30-12; 44: Conway try, McKinney conversion, 37-12; 56: Blair penalty, 37-15; 65: O’Halloran try, McKinney conversion, 44-15.

IRELAND:A Conway (Leinster); T O'Halloran (Connacht), E Griffin (Connacht), N Spence (Ulster), S Zebo (Munster); J McKinney (Ulster), J Cooney (Leinster); J O'Connell (Leinster), N Annett (Ulster), S Maguire (Leinster); D O'Callaghan (Munster), B Marshall (Leinster); R Ruddock (Leinster, capt), D Ryan (Leinster), P Butler (Munster). Replacements: B Cagney (Munster) for Maguire 68 mins; B Hayes (Munster) for Marshall 68 mins; B Macken (Leinster); R Byrne Leinster) for Annet 87 mins; R O'Sullivan (Leinster) for Ryan 87 mins; M Heaney (Ulster) for Cooney 87 mins. for O'Halloran 76 mins, G Quinn McDonogh (Munster) for McKinney 81 mins, R O'Sullivan (Leinster), M Heaney (Ulster).

SCOTLAND:T Brown; O Grove, J Johnstone (Currie), A Dunbar, D Fife; A Blair, A Black; N Little, A Walker, C Phillips; M Reid, R Harley; M Maltman, D Denton, S McInally. Replacements: D Weir for Dunbar half-time; K Hamiltonfor Black half-time; G Hunterfor Phillips 46 mins; C Stidston-Nott for Reid 53 mins; M Scottfor Johnstone 64 mins; L Gibson for Walker 72 mins.

Referee:M Raynal (France)