Ireland U20s end their World Championship on winning note

Ireland's Charlie Molony comes up against Luca De Novellis of Italy. Pic: INPHO/Vakho Chikvaidze

Ireland 34-26 Italy

Six Nations Triple Crown champions Ireland wrapped up their U20 World Championship campaign in Georgia with a third win in a row to secure ninth place in the tournament.

Andrew Browne’s men were good value for their win after the disappointing opening losses to England and Argentina left them scrambling for the lower positions in the 16-team tournament.

Ireland led 22-14 at the end of an opening half where both sides enjoyed good passages of possession but, indicative of their displays in this tournament, often did not finish opportunities.

Ireland showed good patience to hit the front after six minutes, some good offloads and support running ending with captain Josh Neill finishing after they wore down the cover. Daniel Green added the extras for the perfect start.

But the lead lasted just three minutes as Italy cut the Irish defence with fullback Pietro Celi putting Enoch Opuku-Gyamfi away and the lock, who was capped at senior level against Chile during last season, fended off Daniel Ryan to score.

Ireland responded well and a tapped penalty ended several phases later with hooker Duinn Maguire scoring, with Green’s conversion making it 14-7 after 16 minutes.

Once again Ireland conceded after scoring, losing possession as they tried to run out of their 22 and prop Erik Merdi pounced to score with scrum-half Mattia Andretti converting to level.

Ireland's Sean Walsh scores a try against Italy in Georgia. Pic: INPHO/Vakho Chikvaidze

Both sides enjoyed some good defensive moments but a break from No.8 Diarmaid O’Connell created an opening which was finished in the right corner by winger Charlie Molony after outhalf Charlie O’Shea went wide.

Green missed the conversion but stretched the lead to 19-14 four minutes from the break with a penalty after they had failed to hold possession having gone to the right corner with an earlier kick.

The deteriorating weather made conditions extremely difficult after the restart and, while Ireland continued to have an edge, they were unable to increase their lead during a scoreless third quarter with a good battle up front where Connacht tighthead Luke Murtagh, who only arrived in Georgia on Wednesday after recovering from injury, made a big impression when introduced at the break.

Italy reduced the margin to a 22-21 scoreline 15 minutes from time even though No.8 Jaheim Wilson was in the bin but Molony threaded a neat ball through for out-half O’Shea to score.

Green’s missed conversion left the gap at six points ten minutes from time.

There was a let-off for Ireland seven minutes from the end when 148kg Opoku-Gyamfi had a converted try scratched for a forward pass in the build-up and there was further woe for Italy four minutes later when Connacht’s Seán Walsh intercepted from deep to wrap up the win.

There was still time for Italy’s Nikolaj Varotto to pull back a try but by then Ireland had sealed their third win of the tournament.

Ireland: D Green; C Molony, R Carney (J Deegan 54), J O'Leary (Seán Walsh (Connacht) 54), D Ryan; C O'Shea, C Barrett (L Coffey 60); M Doyle (A Cooper 65), D Maguire (R Handley 54), B McClean (L Murtagh half-time); J Finn, D McGuire (Seán Walsh (Leinster) 27); J Neill (c), A Lautsou (C Keane 65), D O'Connell.

Italy: P Celi; L de Novellis, G Falchetto, R Casarin (c), L Rossi (N Varotto 62); R Fasti (A Ragusi 60), M Andretti; E Mastropasqua, V Pelli (E Patricio 48), E Meroi (L Trevisan 74); S Fardin (F Salvanti 50), E Opoku-Gyamfi (C Bianchi 74); A Miranda, D Sette, J Wilson.

Referee: R Campbell (Scotland).