Italy make Ireland pay with last-gasp try

Italy 22 Ireland 21: Munster’s Calvin Nash ran in a couple of tries, but Ireland’s hopes of reaching successive World Rugby U20 Championship finals took a nosedive as Italy pipped them at the death in Georgia.

After a horror opening half where Italy ran in two tries and led 15-3, Nash led the Ireland comeback while penalties from Conor Dean and Ciarán Frawley pushed Ireland ahead in the last 15 minutes. But three minutes from time Massimo Cioffi ran in a brilliant third for Italy, and Antonio Rizzi’s touchline conversion proved the winning kick.

Ireland could have robbed Alessandro Troncon’s side with the final kick of the game, but Frawley’s long range penalty drifted wide and Peter Malone’s troops slipped to defeat.