Grand Slam in sight for Ireland U-20s as they trump England
ENGLAND 27
IRELAND 42
Daire Walsh
U-20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP
They may be on the verge of securing a Grand Slam, but Ireland U20s head coach Richie Murphy insists his side will remain grounded ahead of Sunday’s final round clash with Scotland.
Thanks to their 15-point triumph over England in London on Saturday, Ireland just need to overcome their Celtic rivals on home soil to ensure a clean sweep of underage Six Nations honours in 2022. The Scots are currently at the foot of the Championship table, but Murphy’s unbeaten troops won’t be taking anything for granted.
“We were talking after the game and we’ve been very much focusing on making sure our bits and pieces are right. I don’t think the lads are going to go away from that this week. At the end of next week, we know what is there for us,” Murphy explained.
“Our job is to prepare the best we can for Scotland. Make sure we touch all the bases that we’ve been touching and there’s a lot to review from that game. There’s a lot of things that we can definitely do a little bit better.”
Difficult
It had been a difficult opening to the contest for Ireland as a George Hendy try and five points from the boot of Jamie Benson helped England to storm into an early 10-0 lead. The visitors didn’t panic and restored parity when a routine Charlie Tector place-kick was supplemented by Matthew Devine’s converted score.
Flanker Lorcan McLoughlin subsequently edged Ireland into the ascendancy with a powerful finish on 23 minutes, before England crossed the whitewash for a second time through their No 8 Emeka Ilione to ensure the sides were inseparable (17-17) at the end of a pulsating opening period.
Another unanswered haul of 10 points on the resumption – a Rory McGuire touchdown preceded a conversion and penalty by the reliable Tector – moved Ireland firmly into the driving seat, but Cassius Cleaves’ sprint over the line at the opposite end proved there was still some life in the English challenge.
Yet this was the cue for replacement winger Aitzol King to put his name up in lights. The Leinster man scored two spectacular tries in the space of five minutes to comfortably seal a bonus-point win for Ireland.
Scorers – England: G Hendy, E Ilione, C Cleaves, D Bailey try each, J Benson pen, 2 cons. Ireland: A King 2 tries, M Devine, L McLoughlin, R McGuire try each, C Tector 3 pens, 4 cons.
England – G Hendy; D Bailey, J Cusick (W Joseph 48), E Grayson, C Cleaves; J Benson (L Johnson 48), S Edwards (N Thomas 70); F Baxter (M Dormer 72), J Stewart (F Theobald-Thomas 80), T Hoyt (M Summerfield 64); L Chessum, T Lockett (C Cunningham-South 48); E Richards, T Knight (L Brooke 56), E Ilione.
Ireland – P Campbell; C Mullins (A King 61), J Postlethwaite, B Carson, F Gibbons; C Tector (T Butler 72), M Devine (E Coughlan 59); J Boyle (O Michel 75), J McCormick (J Hanlon 70), R McGuire (S Wilson 70); C O’Tighearnaigh, M Morrissey (J McNabney 73); L McLoughlin (D Mangan 72), R Crothers, J Culhane.
Ref – D Schneider (UAR).