Captain Nash’s Try Not Enough For Ireland U20s

Calvin Nash bagged an early try and Bill Johnston added a further 12 points to his tally in this year’s competition, but it wasn’t enough for Ireland as despite being level 27-all with Wales at Colewyn Bay, they suffered a 41-27 defeat.

There was a huge Munster representation in Nigel Carolan’s starting XV, with no less than a third of the side made up of players from the southern province. Nash regained the role as captain, and opened Ireland’s account by combining with Jordan Lamour before rounding the Welsh defence to touch down a brilliant counter-attacking effort.

Johnston slotted the conversion, and was almost perfect from the tee for the evening, passing double figures once more from the boot, while Joey Conway, Fineen Wycherley and Gavin Coombes all featured in the Irish pack.

Conor Fitzgerald and Colm Hogan also came on from the bench to bring the total Munster representation to seven on a wet night in North Wales.

Despite a mostly positive performance and Nash’s early try, Ireland were down by 11 points at the break, and having pinned Wales back to 24-apiece with a two-try burst after the interval, the free-scoring hosts crossed the line twice more to put a gloss on the scoreboard.

Like the Senior competition, England secured the title a week before the final weekend, with a win over Scotland at Franklin’s Gardens Saturday night, as next weekeend marks 10 years since the U20s captured a grand-slam

Ireland: Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster), Jack Kelly (Dublin University/Leinster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (capt); Bill Johnston (Garryowen/Munster), Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/Ulster); Joey Conway (UL Bohemians/Munster), Tadgh McElroy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster), Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/Munster), Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster), Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).

Replacements: Colm Hogan (Dublin University/Munster) for Kelly (50 mins), Conor Fitzgerald (Shannon/Munster) for Nash (54), Ronan Kelleher (UCD/Leinster) for McElroy (57), Marcus Rea (Queen’s University/Ulster) for Coombes (64), Jack Regan (UCD/Leinster) for Wycherley (69), Matthew Burke (Corinthians/Connacht) for Connolly (72). Not used: Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jack Stafford (Shannon/Munster).