O’Malley: Ireland can bounce back and avoid whitewash

EOIN O’MALLEY reckons Ireland can bounce back from their All Black mauling by beating Tonga in the IRB U20 World Championships today.

Ireland were hammered 65-10 by New Zealand and take on the South Sea Islanders in a must-win clash in Cardiff Arms Park (3pm) as they try to avoid a Pool A whitewash.

And Leinster centre O’Malley, who hands the captain’s armband back to Paul Ryan, admits the wounded players are driven by the fear of finishing rock-bottom.

O’Malley, 19, said: “Finishing bottom of the group had not entered the players’ heads coming into this tournament. But after two bad results, it’s a possibility. There’s been a lot of hard work put in by coaches and players. That’s a huge motivation for us to ensure we don’t come last.

“We knew from the start that a group involving Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga would be physically demanding. At age-grade rugby, other nations are bigger than us. But that’s no excuse for the players, we have to front up. This match means everything.”

There are two changes to the Irish back line. David Kearney, brother of Ireland international Rob, makes his first appearance of the tournament on the wing and Chris Cochrane returns to the number 11 jersey.

Coach Eric Elwood said: “The tournament so far has obviously been a disappointment, but we have not lost any of our hunger. This is a must-win game for us.

“We need to improve on our accuracy — basic errors have cost us so far and we paid dearly for them. We know we have so much more in us and are looking forward to proving it in what will be another very physical encounter.”

IRELAND: N Morris (Blackrock Coll); D Kearney (Lansdowne), E O’Malley (Old Belvedere), C Cleary (Greystones), C Cochrane (QUB); M Dufficy (Dublin Univ), I Porter (QUB); P Karayiannis (QUB), J Harris-Wright (Greystones), B Barclay (UCD), I Nagle (UCC), E Sheriff (Lansdowne), K Essex (UL Bohs), P Mallon (Lansdowne), P Ryan (capt Blackrock Coll).

Replacements: S Douglas (Ballymena), S Archer (UCC), J Sandford (Queens), M Entwistle (Ballymena/Ulster), D Moore (Blackrock Coll), I Madigan (Blackrock Coll), E Sheridan (Lansdowne).