Blacks force Boys in Green to settle for silver

Ireland 19 New Zealand 47

They proved too good for Ireland but the scoreline did not do justice to the young men in green. Seconds from the end, Irish centre John Hearty charged over the line for what many considered a try but referee Hugh Watkins, didn't think it even warranted calling for the video referee.

Mr Watkins wasn't any help to Ireland all through and capped it with a bizarre ruling that Hearty should spend ten minutes in the sin-bin.

But New Zealand deserved their victory and Irish coach Mark McDermott recognised that: "They are a superb side. We needed to get to grips with the game in the first-half but we just couldn't get possession.

"They starved us, strangled us and made us pay for any mistake we made. I'm proud of the lads but I'm disappointed that they ended up with only the silver medals."

However, McDermott believes many of the players can go on to greater things. "This has been a great experience, they're good guys who know exactly what they want out of the game."

One of those is scrum-half Tomás O'Leary, son of the famous Seanie, Cork hurler and selector who went to Glasgow with the best wishes and insistence of the Cork players.

Seanie said: "I missed a great match in Thurles, missed the atmosphere, but when your son is playing in a World Cup final, there's not much of a choice, is there?"

New Zealand took the lead after seven minutes through a Luke McAllister penalty and the same player added another five minutes later.

Gareth Steenson struck back with a drop goal but New Zealand, ruling the roost, broke away and made the game safe with a couple of tries.

Jonathon Poff scored in the 23rd minute and Tony Koonwaiou added another two minutes later. McAllister added both conversions to stretch the lead out to 20-3. Steenson narrowed the gap with a 30th minute penalty.

But New Zealand, always threatening, hit back with another try from winger Koonwaiyou until Ireland, finally, brought themselves back into the game with a try from Jamie Heaslip. New Zealand lead 25-11 at the break.

The All Blacks went further in front within a minute of the resumption when McAllister kicked a penalty but Steenson landed a penalty to peg back the New Zealand lead to 14 points once again.

But despite Ireland's brave showing in the ensuing minutes, the All Blacks grabbed the next score, again from winger Koonwaiyou. Ireland hit back with a try from Shane O'Connor but New Zealand had too much in reserve, ploughing their way home with tries from substitutes Ti Paulo and Kurtis Haiu, both converted by McAllister for a clear-cut victory.

McDermott believes there is more to come from the Ireland under-age structure. "We're there, or thereabouts. Now we know that we have to push the boat out a little bit further, but there is no reason why we should not live on the same stage as the big teams of the world.

"We have to go on from here, work a bit harder and take confidence from the fact that we were good enough to make a final of a world championship."

IRELAND: A. Finn (Dolphin), R. Lane (UCC), J. Hearty (Blackrock), G. Telford (Dungannon), P. McKenzie (Loughborough), G. Steenson (Dungannon), T. O'Leary (Cork Constitution), J. Wickham (Greystones), D. Fogarty (Cork Constitution), D. Fitzpatrick (Clontarf), D. Gannon (Blackrock) captain: S. O'Connor (Cork Constitutution), B. O'Connor (Cork Constitution), J. Heaslip (Dublin University), D. O'Brien (Old Belvedere). Replacements. B. O'Donnell (UL Bohs) for O'Brien (70), O. Hennessy (Dungannon) for B. O'Connor (74), C. Geoghegan (UCD) for Fogarty, 76).

NEW ZEALAND: G. Horton, T. Koonwaiyou, B.Atiga; captain, L. McAllister, R. Wulf, S. Donald, T. Morland, B. Franks, J. Pareanga, J. Afoa, C. Clarke, J. Ryan, G. Naoupu, J. Kaino, J. Poff.

Replacements. P. Weepu for Morland (49), M. Tuu'u for Kaino (60), M. Haiu for Clarke 966), T. Paulo for Pareananga (70)

Referee: H. Watkins (Wales).

*Third/fourth place off: South Africa 44 Australia 10.