Ireland end U20 World Junior pool campaign in style with 11-try rout of USA

Andrew Browne's side proved far too strong for the USA who have never won a game in three seasons.

ELEVENTH HEAVEN: Ireland's Jack Deegan scores his side's eleventh try during the World Junior Rugby Championship Pool C game against the USA. Pic: Tamuna Kulumbegashvili/Sportsfile

Ireland 73 USA 22

Andrew Browne’s Irish U-20 side ran in eleven tries to wrap up their pool campaign on a high in Georgia.

They proved far too strong for the USA who have never won a game in three seasons at the Junior World Championship.

Earlier defeats to England and Argentina mean they will now vie for a position in the 9-12th finishing segment in their remaining two games of the 16-team tournament.

Ireland had the bonus point in the bag in 29 minutes and ran in three more tries before the interval to lead by 45-3 at the break.

Outhalf Charlie O’Shea ran in a hat-trick during that opening half, with the former Christians player full of invention and strong running.

So too was centre Seán Walsh, who made his Connacht senior debut against Ospreys in the Challenge Cup last December, who ran in a couple of tries as they shredded the USA defence.

Scrumhalf Christopher Barrett got Ireland off the mark with a try in a minute and a half while centre Rob Carney took their opening half try haul to seven three minutes from the break after a turnover from Walsh and a break from deep.

Looshead Adam Cooper got Ireland’s eighth try after 48 minutes before his Connacht teammate Walsh completed his hat-trick five minutes later.

Ireland's Johnny O'Sullivan and Ben Blaney during a water break. Pic: ©INPHO/Levan Verdzeuli.

Another Connacht player, winger Daniel Ryan came on to add to the hat-trick he got against England while another replacement Jack Deegan got their eleventh for the Laois native to maintain his record of scoring in each game in this tournament.

The USA crossed for three second half tries from winger Finn Love, scrumhalf Joseph Sarkees and impressive centre Leo Keester-Venables.

Ireland finished with 14 men when winger Charlie Molony picked up a 20-minute red card after getting a second yellow when he was harshly pinged in an aerial contest.

Scorers for Ireland:

Tries: C O’Shea (3), Seán Walsh (Connacht) (3), C Barrett, R Carney, A Cooper, D Ryan, J Deegan.

Cons: D Green (9).

Scorers for USA:

Tries: F Love, J Sarkees, L Keester-Venables.

Cons: J Firebrace (2). Pen: D Cadden.

Ireland: D Green; C Molony, R Carney (J Deegan 60), Seán Walsh (Connacht), J O'Sullivan; C O'Shea (D Ryan 56), C Barrett (L Coffey 56); A Cooper (M Doyle 73), D Maguire (L McLaughlin 48), B McClean (J Conway 48); Seán Walsh (Leinster), J Finn (P Woods 60); C Keane (D O'Connell 69), B Blaney (capt), A Lautsou.

USA: B Miller; S Ofa (D Mitchell 71), W Darbishire, L Keester-Venables, F Love; D Cadden (J Firebrace 17), J Sarkees; C Donnelly (S Troupe 51), A Stewart (S Kafovalu 35), T Trower (A Booth 35-63); L Bailey, K Talaepa (P Kelly 51); L Hill (J Williams 51), H Cluff, F Finicle (Y Efthymiopoulos 59).

Referee: George Selwood (England).