Ireland end U20 Six Nations in style but still pipped at post by England

15 March 2024; Danny Sheahan of Ireland scores his side's third try during the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland U20 36 Scotland U20 0 

Ireland completed their Under-20 Six Nations campaign in style with a bonus-point win over Scotland in Cork on Friday night but it was not enough to earn a hat-trick of titles.

Four second-half tries broke winless Scotland’s resistance after a competitive first 50 minutes in which Hugo McLaughlin’s converted try on 20 minutes had been all that separated two sides at opposite ends of the standings.

Captain Evan O’Connell and fellow Munster forwards Danny Sheahan, with two tries, and Sean Edogbo got Ireland over the line as Richie Murphy’s men kept their composure and patience to wear the opposition down. Yet despite going unbeaten with four wins and a draw it was not enough to stop England ending their reign as champions.

The victory at Virgin Media Park had moved Ireland, back-to-back U20 Grand Slam winners in 2022 and 2023, top of the table with 22 points from their five matches, four points clear of England, whose final game against France kicked off an hour later in Pau. Ireland had earned a dramatic draw with the English in Bath seven days earlier but trailed their title rivals by a point ahead of the final round of matches having earned one less bonus point and that came back to bite them as the Red Rose claimed their own bonus-point win at Stade de Hameau.

“That was an immense battle,” O’Connell told Virgin Media as he accepted his player of the match award while Ireland’s fate was still hanging in the balance. “Scotland came out firing in that first half, they were really physical, really strong.

“We were lucky to come away with the seven points in that first half but we’re delighted. I’m so proud of the lads and the effort they put in today and to get five tries is pretty special.” 

Ireland did not have it all their own way despite the pre-match predictions of a procession against a side that had conceded an average of 35 points in their first four games. Bucking the trend, Scotland fronted up in the contact area and enjoyed early dominance at scrum time.

Ireland still enjoyed plenty of possession but met with a resolute defence and did not make the breakthrough until the 20-minute mark, Scottish full-back Jack Brown spilling an aerial take from a Jack Murphy high ball up the middle. Ireland pounced and quickly moved the ball left, the ball arriving in the hands of wing Hugo McLaughlin, who finished smartly in the corner with as much relief as celebration from the crowd at seeing their team up and running at last.

Murphy’s excellent conversion from close to the left touchline added some comfort but it represented the final points of the opening period as Scotland spent longer periods in the home half, some extended pressure only relieved by Ireland’s first scrum penalty of the first half, 33 minutes in.

It was enough to send Ireland into the interval with a 7-0 lead and plenty of untapped attacking potential yet to be seen. Ireland did start the second half with intent, McLaughlin again the chief outlet on the left wing, his pass to support runner Henry Walker, the speedy hooker, just eluding its target. In the second minute after the restart.

There was a setback as No.8 Luke Murphy hobbled out of the action on 44 minutes, shortly followed by tighthead Jacob Boyed but Ireland stayed in control of the ball and steadily advanced through their phase game and continued to gain the upper hand at the scrum, Jack Murphy slotting a 50th minute penalty to push his side 10-0 in front.

The pressure continued and eventually told as Ireland captain O’Connell picked and scored from close range to claim his side’s second try of the night just before the hour mark. Though Jack Murphy missed the conversion, Scottish resistance cracked from there, replacement forward Monroe Job sin-binned on 65 minutes and Ireland adding a third try on 70.

It came from a rolling maul and the scorer was replacement hooker Danny Sheahan, the Cork front-rower’s fourth try of the campaign. The bonus-point try came with three minutes left on the clock as news of France’s fast start against England began to filter through, flanker Sean Edogbo scoring it as Ireland flexed their muscles once more against a tiring Scottish pack, Sheahan grabbing his second at the death.

“We might have went away from ourselves a small bit in that first half but we definitely got back into our flow in the second half. We’re moment by moment no matter what happens, we move onto the next job.

“It’s been amazing. This is an incredible group of lads, we’re all working so hard for each other, the coaches are working so hard for us, I’m just unbelievably proud of the group effort we’ve put in today. Now it’s just a waiting game to see what happens.”

IRELAND U20: B O’Connor; F Treacy, W de Klerk (S Naughton, 72), H Gavin (D Colbert, 54), H McLaughlin; J Murphy, O Coffey (T Brophy, 74); A Usanov (B Howard, 66), H Walker (D Sheahan, 60), J Boyd (P Bell, 48); J Hopes, E O’Connell – captain; S Edogbo, B Ward (B Corrigan, 60), L Murphy (J McKillop, 44).

SCOTLAND U20: J Brown (Finn Douglas, 60); F Doyle, J Ventisei, F Thomson (A Clarke, 63), G Gwynn – co-captain; A McLean, H Patterson (E Davey, 60); C Smyth (R Deans, 25), J Blyth-Lafferty (M Brogan, 66), C Norrie (R Whitefield, 66); E McVie (K Yule, 63), R Hart - co-captain; J Morris (M Job, 60), Freddy Douglas, T Currie.

Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan).