Video: Ireland U20s’ Path To The Final

As Ireland prepare to face England in the World Rugby U20 Championship final on Saturday, we look back at their campaign to date, one that has seen them defeat reigning Grand Slam champions Wales, reigning world champions New Zealand, Georgia and Argentina.

Round 1 v Wales
Nigel Carolan’s men overcame a 17 point deficit and scored three tries in defeating their 6 Nations counterparts Wales.
 
A thrilling and enjoyable encounter from start to finish, following three unanswered tries from the Welshmen, Ireland eventually hit their stride, scoring three unanswered tries of their own through Adam McBurney and a Jacob Stockdale brace, while the boot of Munster debutant Bill Johnston contributed a drop-goal, one conversion and two penalties.

Round 2 v New Zealand
The U20s became the first Ireland men's side to defeat New Zealand, doing so with a comprehensive 24-33 victory that saw them score three tries and take charge of the game at set piece.
 
Tries from Greg Jones and McBurney, and four successful placekicks from the boot of Johnston gave Ireland a 14-20 lead at the interval.  Despite losing the services of Johnston to injury for the second half, Ireland had an immediate response to everything that was thrown at them, Max Deegan scoring Ireland’s third try with the boot of Johnny McPhillips adding the conversion and a further two penalties.

 
Round 3 v Georgia
Despite conceding a try in the game's opening minutes, Ireland recovered quickly to render their Georgian counterparts scoreless for the remainder of the game as they recorded a 35-7 bonus point win to book a place in the semi-finals.
 
The dominant side throughout, Keenan and McPhillips notched up tries in the opening 40 and the victory was well and truly beyond doubt when Terry Kennedy scored with 20 minutes to go. Worthy of a five point return, Ireland had to fight to the very end against a defiant Georgia side, eventually crossing for the bonus point try through Andrew Porter in the final play of the game.

 
Semi-Final v Argentina
Ireland handed Argentina a 30 point drubbing (37-7) in qualifying for their first ever World Rugby U20 Championship final.  Bursting out of the blocks with tries from Stockdale and man-of-the-match Deegan, Ireland used their set piece dominance to open up a 21-7 half-time lead and ultimately grind the high-flying Pumitas into submission. 

McPhillips landed six of his seven kicks for a 15-point haul, with Stockdale scoring a first half brace of tries and Munster's Shane Daly adding the gloss with a late intercept effort.

Ireland now face England in the final at the AJ Bell Stadium, Manchester this Saturday at 7pm. 

This game will be televised on Sky Sports and TG4.

Irish fans living in London can avail of the MRSC London Branch’s day-return bus service from London to Manchester on Saturday.  Click here for more information.