Ireland convincing winners in U21 clash against Georgia

Ireland U-21 47 Georgia U-21 0, Issoire

Ireland ran out convincing winners in their final game of the pool stages at the IRB Under-21 World Championship in Issoire this evening.

An at-odds Georgian team were hit for seven tries as the Irish finally cut loose after deflating defeats to France and Argentina in the past 10 days.

However, an ill-disciplined streak which saw four Irish players sent to the sin bin will have to be curbed if Mark McDermott's men are to end the tournament on a high in the play-offs.

Flankers Michael Essex and David Pollock, winger Matthew Williams and hooker and captain Stuart Philpott all received yellow cards as Argentinian referee Daniel Jabase read the riot act at ruck time.

Philpott, one of three members of the current squad who played at last year's tournament in Durban, bulldozed through for Ireland's opening try with just two minutes on the clock.

The eastern Europeans were caught off guard as the Irish pack carried forward for Philpott to dance in from ten metres out in the wet conditions.

St Mary's starlet Jonathan Sexton, earning his first start of the competition after an injury-disrupted spell, converted. His half-back partner Duncan Williams soon sniped over for a second and Sexton converted centre Darren Cave's 26th-minute effort for a 19-0 lead at the break.

Georgian duo Ivane Sulamanidze and David Gurgenidze offered the deceptively quick Cave too much of a gap and he arrowed through it to round brilliantly in near the posts. The Belfast Harlequins clubman has been fast-tracked into the U-21 set-up - he only turned 19 in April.

Ireland ended the half with Essex in the bin, and Bristol player Matthew Williams followed suit early in the second half. However, the attacking threat from the Irish never waned.

Georgia conceded 175 points in their previous two games, and as their heads dropped, Ireland cantered clear with Philpott (48 minutes), full-back Fionn Carr (64) and winger Ian Hanly (79) adding touch downs.

Sexton topped off his 12-point contribution by converting replacement hooker Sean Cronin's dart over in injury time.

IRELAND U-21: Fionn Carr; Ian Hanly, Darren Cave, Fergus McFadden, Matthew Williams; Jonathan Sexton, Duncan Williams; Michael Diffley, Stuart Philpott (capt), Paul Doran Jones, Daniel Tuohy, David McGowan, Michael Essex, Diarmuid Laffan, Billy Holland.

Replacements used: Matthew D'Arcy for D Williams (half time), Devin Toner for Tuohy (45 mins), David Pollock for Laffan (52), Dave Ryan for Doran Jones (58), Tom Gleeson for Cave (65), Sean Cronin for Essex (73), Conan Doyle for M Williams (75).

GEORGIA U-21: David Gurgenidze; Vakhtang Chikhladze, Ivane Sulamanidze, David Kacharava (capt), Giorgi Mchedlishvili; Irakli Kiasashvili, Giorgi Mjavanadze; Beka Sheklashvili, Giorgi Soselia, Giorgi Jgenti, Merab Gabunia, Lasha Azaladze, Lasha Tavartkiladze, Otari Minashvili, Dimitri Basilaia.

Replacements used: Irakli Chkonia for Soselia (52 mins), Simon Maisuradze for Basilaia (55), Davit Kubriashvili for Sheklashvili, Giorgi Begadze for Mjavanadze (both 65), Mikheil Archuashvili for Gabunia (72), Irakli Gegenava for Sulamanidze (77). Not used: Luka Kilasonia.

Sin Bin: Essex (33 mins), M Williams (42), Stuart Philpott (69), Pollock (76)

Referee: Daniel Jabase (Argentina)

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Stuart Philpott 2, Duncan Williams, Darren Cave, Fionn Carr, Ian Hanly, Sean Cronin; Cons: Jonathan Sexton 6