RUGBY OPINION
Mixed fortunes for Kildare contingent at Rugby U20 World Cup
By Daire Walsh
IT has been a productive start to the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy for Ireland, who recorded narrow victories over Argentina and Scotland in their opening pool games. A crucial encounter is still to come against New Zealand tomorrow (10 June) in Viadana, but Nigel Carolan’s charges have shown great mental resolve in the opening week of the competition.
For the first time under the stewardship of the Galway Corinthians club man, the Kildare trio of Billy Dardis, Joey Carbery and Jeremy Loughman featured in the same starting line-up for Ireland’s game with Argentina last Tuesday.
With regular out-half Ross Byrne ruled out through injury, Carbery was given a chance to shine, but luck was not on the side of his long-time Athy compatriot Loughman. The flexible prop was replaced by Andrew Porter just eight minutes into the contest, and after a scan revealed that he had sustained a broken nose, it unfortunately brought his World Cup odyssey to an end.
His place in the squad was subsequently taken by Liam O’Connor, and it was another late call-up that ultimately proved to be the match-winner for Ireland in a tense battle with the South Americans. Carbery had contributed a grand total of 15 points in the game, but when he made way for Cork Constitution’s Tomas Quinlan (who took Byrne’s spot in the camp) with just two minutes remaining in the tie, the Green Army were heading for an agonising defeat.
Yet, the ice-cool Quinlan had the final say, as his magnificent touchline penalty ensured that Ireland emerged with an 18-16 success. Carbery’s performance in the Argentina clash was encouraging, however, and he was once again joined in the Irish backline by Dardis when they met Scotland on Saturday afternoon.
Ireland were hoping to avenge their Six Nations loss to the same opponents, and tries from Dardis and Conor Oliver helped last year’s fourth-placed team to create a 15-3 interval platform.
Carbery had also chipped in with five points during the opening period, before adding a brace of penalties to his personal tally after the restart. The determined Scots did register five-pointers from Lewis Carmichael and Ruaridh Knott, but Ireland ultimately finished with four points (24-20) to spare.
Meanwhile, the Ireland Men’s Sevens team took their first step towards Olympic qualification when they were crowned European Men’s Sevens Division C champions in Bosnia on Sunday. Naas’ Adam Byrne was in try-scoring form during their opening pool game with Turkey, and following subsequent wins against Belarus and Montenegro, they met Austria in the quarter-final of the competition.
Byrne was once again on the scoresheet in this 38-10 success, and thanks to subsequent triumphs over Turkey and hosts Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ireland claimed the silverware on offer.
As a result, they have qualified for the Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon on 18/19 July, and should they add to their trophy haul in the Portuguese capital, they will be presented with the opportunity of securing the final spot at Rio 2016 in the World Olympic Repechage.