Second Place Finish For Ireland U-20s Following Unbeaten Campaign

The Ireland Under-20 Men’s team (sponsored by PwC) fell just short of retaining the U-20 Six Nations title, following a 36-0 bonus point win over Scotland at Virgin Media Park.

UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 5:

Friday, March 15 –

IRELAND UNDER-20s 36 SCOTLAND UNDER-20s 0, Virgin Media Park
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Hugo McLaughlin, Evan O’Connell, Danny Sheahan 2, Sean Edogbo; Cons: Jack Murphy 4; Pen: Jack Murphy
Scotland: –
HT: Ireland 7 Scotland 0

In Richie Murphy’s final game in charge before his move north as Ulster’s interim head coach, the Ireland U-20s reeled off four tries during the last 23 minutes to move themselves onto 22 points at the top of the table.

However, in the later kick-off, England impressively overcame France, winning 45-31 in Pau to finish on 23 points and become champions for the first time since 2021. England’s fifth try-scoring bonus point of the tournament proved vital, with Ireland picking up four.

Hugo McLaughlin’s second try in as many games gave Murphy’s charges a hard-earned 7-0 half-time lead, as Scotland’s much-improved defence frustrating the hosts at times, and their scrum also forced penalties.

Nonetheless, with captain and PwC player-of-the-match Evan O’Connell crossing on the hour mark, Ireland squeezed every point they could out of a clinical final-quarter performance.

It was a full squad effort with the bench having the desired impact, and Cork duo Danny Sheahan (2) and Sean Edogbo both powered over from close range, with the former’s fifth try of the tournament coming in the 82nd minute.

Despite missing out on a third successive U-20 Six Nations crown, Ireland’s class of 2024 have plenty to build on. 30 players got game-time across the Championship, and tonight saw Ulster’s James McKillop become the 25th debutant in recent weeks.

The loss of Brian Gleeson due to an ankle injury after the first round was a big setback, but other players stepped up in his absence. With that opening victory in Aix-en-Provence and last week’s draw in Bath, Ireland are now unbeaten in 15 U-20 Six Nations matches.

Following some early defensive duties, Bryn Ward’s strong midfield carry raised the decibel level amongst the Cork crowd, along with Hugh Gavin’s offload to release Finn Treacy on a short burst down the right touchline.

O’Connell was held up short from Ireland’s first lineout opportunity, but Scotland were proving tough to break down. Even when out-half Jack Murphy opted to chip over the defensive line, the bouncing ball evaded the grasp of Wilhelm de Klerk.

Andrew McLean covered across to deny Treacy a try from his own kick through, and just when a surge from Jacob Boyd had got Ireland in behind the defence, busy openside Freddy Douglas won a turnover penalty for the Scots.

Despite Luke Murphy losing the ball in contact, Ireland were deadly accurate from their next visit to the Scottish 22 as they opened the scoring midway through the opening half.

Jack Brown knocked on a high ball, Edogbo was quickest to it, making ground before a sweeping attack out to the left ended with Ward cleverly drawing in defenders and offloading for McLaughlin to go over in the corner.

A classy, curling conversion from Jack Murphy made it a full seven-pointer, yet with prop Robbie Deans an influential replacement, Scotland won two scrum penalties in quick succession, either side of a promising kick and collect from winger McLaughlin.

Tighthead Callum Norrie lost his feet at a key five-metre scrum, though, as Ireland survived some pressure near their own try-line. At the other end, the Scottish defence continued to give little away, and a late penalty won by Douglas displayed his swiftness at the breakdown again.

Murphy’s side were quick to threaten on the resumption, with Gavin making a break and connecting with McLaughlin whose pass narrowly failed to find the supporting Henry Walker as Scotland were exposed out wide.

Number 8 Murphy unfortunately had to hobble off injured, meaning the introduction of Under-20 newcomer McKillop and a move to the base of the scrum for Edogbo.

Replacing the injured Boyd, IQ Rugby prop Patreece Bell lifted his team-mates by winning an immediate scrum penalty, allowing Murphy to take Ireland into double figures with a meaty strike from distance for 10-0.

Hooker Walker then broke off a lineout maul to get Ireland within five metres of the whitewash, but Scotland’s defence held firm as they absorbed more pressure. Ireland were too lateral at times, and another costly turnover penalty saw them lose ground.

Despite the injury-enforced departure of Gavin, the hosts regrouped with McLaughlin and Edogbo both prominent in attack. Scotland were worn down close to their own line, and O’Connell drove low to make it over in the 59th minute.

Scotland were down to 14 men just five minutes later, with replacement Monroe Job seeing yellow for not being back 10 metres when McLaughlin went quickly from a mark.

Ireland advanced thanks to Sheahan scooping up a loose Scottish lineout on halfway, and fellow replacement Davy Colbert went close to taking down a Murphy cross-field kick cleanly. Scotland were suddenly pinned back, and an offside decision kept them there.

A well-worked lineout drive paved the way for hooker Sheahan to ground the ball, despite the presence of Scottish replacement Kerr Yule. Bray man Murphy tagged on the extras to widen the margin to 22 points.

When another Scottish attack broke down, replacement Sean Naughton was first to reach McLaughlin’s kick downfield. Ireland could not capitalise on an initial penalty, but a powerful scrum earned another penalty before Edogbo crashed over in the 76th minute, via a clever McKillop pass.

Murphy converted the bonus point try, and Ireland’s persistence was rewarded with a fifth converted effort past the 80-minute mark. O’Connell stole lineout possession back and they decided to play on having been awarded a penalty inside their own 22.

Murphy’s chip over the top was gathered by the lively Naughton, and with Scotland leaking another penalty, Ireland duly pounced. Tadhg Brophy’s inviting inside pass sent Sheahan burrowing over, with support from Bell, Edogo, and Joe Hopes.

Murphy fired over the conversion, capping off a satisfying night’s work for a young Irish squad that will undoubtedly learn the lessons of this tournament and come back stronger for this summer’s World Rugby U-20 Championship in South Africa.

Under-20 Six Nations Results

Under-20 Six Nations Table

TIME LINE: 20 minutes – Ireland try: Hugo McLaughlin – 5-0; conversion: Jack Murphy – 7-0; Half-time – Ireland 7 Scotland 0; 49 mins – Ireland penalty: Jack Murphy – 10-0; 59 mins – Ireland try: Evan O’Connell – 15-0; conversion: missed by Jack Murphy – 15-0; 64 mins – Scotland yellow card: Monroe Job; 70 mins – Ireland try: Danny Sheahan – 20-0; conversion: Jack Murphy – 22-0; 76 mins – Ireland try: Sean Edogbo – 27-0; conversion: Jack Murphy – 29-0; 80+2 mins – Ireland try: Danny Sheahan – 34-0; conversion: Jack Murphy – 36-0; Full-time – Ireland 36 Scotland 0

IRELAND U-20: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Jacob Boyd (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster).

Replacements used: James McKillop (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster) for L Murphy (43 mins), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) for Boyd (48), Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster) for Gavin (56), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster) for Walker, Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster) for Ward (both 60), Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster) for Usanov (65), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) for de Klerk (71), Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster) for Coffey (74).

SCOTLAND U-20: Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby); Finlay Doyle (Loughborough University), Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors), Findlay Thomson (Watsonians), Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University) (co-capt); Andrew McLean (Boroughmuir Bears), Hector Patterson (Edinburgh); Callum Smyth (Glasgow Warriors), Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh), Callum Norrie (Glasgow Warriors), Euan McVie (Edinburgh), Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Warriors) (co-capt), Jonny Morris (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh), Tom Currie (Edinburgh).

Replacements used: Robbie Deans (Edinburgh) for Smyth (24 mins), Eric Davey (Stirling Wolves) for Patterson, Finn Douglas (Edinburgh) for Brown, Monroe Job (Southern Knights) for Morris (all 60), Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors) for Thomson, Archie Clarke (Durham University) for McVie (both 62), Ryan Whitefield (Biggar) for Norrie, Marcus Brogan (Hawick) for Blyth-Lafferty (both 66).

Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)