Ireland get back on track after 11-try thriller

Ireland put themselves back into contention for an Under-20 Six Nations title challenge with a bonus point victory over Italy at Donnybrook last night, but they very nearly let the game slip away from them in an 11-try thriller.

There will be tougher games to come, and significant improvement will be needed as they struggled to put a determined 14-man Italy to the sword; indeed the visitors got themselves two bonus points with four tries and by finishing within seven points.

Italy snatched the initiative with an unconverted intercept try from winger Tommaso Coppo but James McCarthy responded quickly with an Irish try to level matters afterfive minutes.