Irish U-21’s advance with determined semi-final victory

Australia 13 Ireland 26

Ireland completed a surprise victory over tournament second seeds Australia in the IRB U-21 World Championship tonight.

The Irish pack seemed more at home in the heavy rain in Hughenden than their opposition, pinning the Aussies into their own half for much of the game.

Ireland took an early lead, thanks to a Gareth Steenson penalty, before Austrailian kicker Daniel Halangagu struck back with two of his own.

A dogged Irish team then scored two outstanding tries, one from Glen Telfer and from right wing Ricky Lane to stamp their authority on the match.

A Henari Veratu try and Helangahu’s conversion tied the game, before another Steenson penalty meant Ireland had a 16-13 lead at half time.

Steenson kicked another penalty soon into the second-half, and although Ireland enjoyed much of the territory, the scoreline meant uneasy times for the Irish team.

This was later remedied when right hooker Denis Fogarty was driven over the tryline by the Irish forwards. Steenson’s conversion made the score a more solid 26-13, and that’s how it stayed after a tenacious second-half display that kept the Aussies scoreless.

Ireland will now play defending champions New Zealand in a bid to win Ireland’s first-ever U21 championship.