Hooker Ronan Kelleher helped himself to two tries as the Ireland Under-20s powered their way to a 52-26 win over Samoa in today’s 9th-12th place play-off at the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Georgia.
The morale-boosting result for Peter Malone's injury-ravaged squad will see them compete for ninth place in Sunday's final round, with hosts Georgia providing the opposition at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi (kick-off 1pm local time/10am Irish time).
It was Ireland's first victory of the tournament after pool defeats to Italy, Scotland and New Zealand, and the first time an Ireland U-20 side has scored 50 or more points since a 53-23 success against Scotland in 2010.
Tries from forwards Kelleher, Peter Cooper, Fineen Wycherley and Oisin Dowling underlined Ireland's dominance up front as they built a 26-5 half-time lead. Out-half Conor Dean landed three conversions and then added three more after the break.
The ill-disciplined Samoans, who had two players sin-binned, came more into it in the second half but 31-12 is as close as they got. Calvin Nash's third try of the tournament was followed by efforts from Kelleher, Ciaran Frawley and Caelan Doris, making it eight tries in all as Ireland rebounded well from their three pool defeats.
Needing a win to avoid a relegation play-off at the weekend, Ireland's organisation, strength and drive up front was the difference between the sides in an opening quarter that produced three tries. With the wind behind them, the 1/7 pre-match favourites attacked hard off a scrum on halfway and after a series of pick and goes, Kelleher powered over for a fourth minute try converted by Dean.
With number 8 Doris looking back to his best, Ireland turned down two kickable penalties and continued to attack hard around the fringes. After going to the corner and securing the lineout, the pack pressed close in and tighthead Cooper marked his first start of the tournament with a seven-pointer.
Samoa then enjoyed a better spell of play, tidying up their defence and discipline, however full-back Ricky Ene missed a penalty in the windy conditions and they were soon behind their own posts again. Gavin Coombes and Dowling were to the fore of another ground-gaining set of carries from the Irish pack, with the latter's second row partner Wycherley barging into a couple of defenders and using his big frame to reach in under the posts at the 20-minute mark.
The Samoans built some decent phases in response, getting their offload game going, and lock Theodore Solipo seized his change from 30 metres out having not been held in the tackle. He touched down despite the best efforts of the covering Alan Tynan and Michael Silvester, but Ene hit the post with the conversion – his third miss off the tee.
Ireland ended the first half as they had started it – with a try. The Baby Manu lost scrum half Howard Tagoai to a yellow card for not being back 10 metres from a quick tap penalty, and the Irish front row earned the plaudits again as they won a five-metre scrum against the head with a great shove and Dowling was fed from a subsequent ruck to score. Dean's third successful conversion put 21 points between the sides at the break.
Malone's charges began the second half with a bang, Dean's well-weighted grubber kick giving the onrushing Nash the opportunity to turn the Samoan defence inside and out with some lovely footwork and a classy finish near the left corner.
It was one-way traffic as Ireland continued to stretch Samoa's defence with captain Paul Boyle, Tynan and scrum half Jack Stafford all going close. Credit to Samoan replacement Pupi Ah See for two key tackles close to his own line which denied Tynan and Stafford, who was the picks of the backs along with elusive winger Silvester and half-time replacement David McCarthy.
It was then Ireland's turn to feel a bit of heat, Dowling seeing yellow for not rolling away and Samoan prop Setu Enoka crossed for a 57th-minute converted try. However, Kelleher completed his brace barely three minutes later, Coombes making the initial break, skilful U-19 centre McCarthy doing well to keep the attack going and captain Paul Boyle carrying strongly in sight of the line.
With Boyle again making good yards close in, a lovely offload out of the tackle from influential flanker Coombes put centre Frawley over for try number seven, the score coming just after Samoan centre Tanielu Tele'a was sin-binned for kicking out on the ground. Scrum half Ah See, who impressed off the bench, got a deserved try when burrowing over from a metre out.
Samoa's try count was four by the finish with prop Afioga Ielemia crashing over in the final seconds, but before that Ireland had hit the half-century mark thanks to a deserved try from the excellent Doris, who forced his way over after replacement Adam Moloney had been held up. Notably, Instonians' promising winger Mark Keane came on for final quarter of an hour, almost marking his U-20 debut with a try late on.
Giving his reaction afterwards, Ireland skipper Boyle said: “It's a great feeling. We've worked hard in training for the past few months but especially in the last week after the few defeats, and we're delighted to get the win. There were a few harsh words after the first few games and we really stepped it up today.
“Samoa are the good side, they're big and physical and they've a few very good players – and their backs can play as well, so we never underestimated Samoa. We got our stuff right today and we came out on top.
“For the final round we'll be looking for a performance first and foremost but to get the win. We need a win to finish. We haven't shown all what we can do but hopefully we have given a good glimpse and now we can push on in the last game.”
TIME LINE: 4 minutes – Ireland try: Ronan Kelleher – 5-0; conversion: Conor Dean – 7-0; 10 mins – Ireland try: Peter Cooper – 12-0; conversion: missed by Conor Dean – 12-0; 18 mins – Samoa penalty: missed by Ricky Ene – 12-0; 20 mins – Ireland try: Fineen Wycherley – 17-0; conversion: Conor Dean – 19-0; 25 mins – Samoa penalty: missed by Ricky Ene – 19-0; 32 mins – Samoa try: Theodore Solipo – 19-5; conversion: missed by Ricky Ene – 19-5; 37 mins – Samoa yellow card: Howard Tagoai; 38 mins – Ireland try: Oisin Dowling – 24-5; conversion: Conor Dean – 26-5; Half-time – Ireland 26 Samoa 5; 41 mins – Ireland try: Calvin Nash – 31-5; conversion: missed by Conor Dean – 31-5; 54 mins – Ireland yellow card: Oisin Dowling; 57 mins – Samoa try: Setu Enoka – 31-10; conversion: Ricky Ene – 31-12; 60 mins – Ireland try: Ronan Kelleher – 36-12; conversion: Conor Dean – 38-12; 63 mins – Samoa yellow card: Tanielu Tele'a; 64 mins – Ireland try: Ciaran Frawley – 43-12; conversion: Conor Dean – 45-12; 68 mins – Samoa try: Pupi Ah See – 45-17; conversion: Ricky Ene – 45-19; 77 mins – Ireland try: Caelan Doris – 50-19; conversion: Conor Dean – 52-19; 80 mins – Samoa try: Afioga Ielemia – 52-24; conversion: Ricky Ene – 52-26; Full-time – Ireland 52 Samoa 26
Referee: Tom Foley (England)
This website uses cookies.
Read More