Ireland qualify for play-off

Ireland 19 Argentina 13

Ireland qualified for Friday's 5th-6th place play-off at the IRB Under-19 World Championship after surviving a second half fightback from Argentina tonight.

Charlie McAleese hailed his side's "great heart" in Sharjah after they held on for a 19-13 victory - their third of the tournament.

Pumas out-half Ignacio Mieres scored 13 points - a converted try and two penalties - in a devastating 10-minute spell in the second half, but the Irish were not to be denied despite late drop goal and penalty attempts by Mieres.

Argentina lost centre Gustin Vaccari and flanker Juan Pablo to the sin bin in the first half and the Irish crucially made them pay.

Hooker Gerard Slattery piled over for a 28th-minute try, which Brian Collins converted.

Castleknock out-half Collins added a penalty on 33 minutes, adding to an earlier effort, for a 13-0 Irish lead at the break.

However, Belvedere prop Cian Healy was yellow carded nine minutes into the second half and, restored to 15, the Argentinians clawed their way back into contention.

Mieres landed a 46th-minute penalty, a converted try four minutes later and another penalty on 55 minutes.

Collins, now the second top-scorer in the tournament with 45 points, had sandwiched a penalty on 48 minutes, enabling Ireland to hold onto the lead.

Five minutes from time, Collins kicked his fourth penalty to send Ireland into a play-off for fifth against Wales on Friday afternoon (Dubai Exiles RFC, kick-off 3.15pm Irish time).

Coach McAleese said afterwards: "I think the team played with great heart again - in the first half we played some dangerous rugby. We were creating a lot of opportunities. But credit to Argentina, they put us under great pressure."

Openside flanker and captain David Pollock added: "We deserved our victory, we played some super rugby. Our defence was outstanding. There wasn't much in it in the second half - we tackled well and that saw us through."

Scorers: Try: Gerard Slattery; Con: Brian Collins; Pens: Collins 4

Argentina: Try: Ignacio Mieres; Con: Mieres; Pens: Mieres 2