Seven Try U-20s Off To A Flyer

Nigel Carolan’s reign as Ireland Under-20 head coach got off to a very positive start as his young charges ran in seven tries to beat Italy 47-15 in tonight’s Six Nations opener.

Ireland 47 – 15 Italy

Greencore Munster Academy winger Greg O'Shea was among the tries with the Shannon man touching down in the first half.

The quality of rugby produced was a credit to both teams as the muddy surface and wintry weather made for heavy underfoot conditions, with piles of snow surrounding the pitch in Biella.

Given the greasy ball and the fact that the Ireland Under-20s only scored seven tries in the entire Championship last year, this was very much a confidence-boosting result for Nigel Carolan's new-look side.

The Italians were at their liveliest early on, stunning Ireland with a third minute try from flanker Dennis Bergamin and they also created a lovely score out wide for winger Luca Sperandio in the 32nd minute.

However, the visitors' superiority up front was telling as flankers Josh Murphy and Rory Moloney collected a couple of tries from first half mauls, Garry Ringrose created a well-taken O'Shea try and hooker Zack McCall's late charge-down effort made it 28-15 for half-time.

With Ross Byrne and captain Nick McCarthy directing operations from half-back and the well-drilled front five giving Ireland an enviable set piece platform, especially at scrum time, Ireland went on to dominate both possession and territory in the second half.

Lovely hands from Byrne and replacement Joey Carbery put full-back Billy Dardis over for a 45th minute try. Byrne missed his only conversion of the night, but he was back on target entering the final quarter after McCarthy grounded the ball from close range.

As the Italians tired and Ireland's eager bench became a factor, a tremendous lineout maul from outside the hosts' 22 finished with replacement lock Cian Romaine crashing over beneath the posts. Byrne's simple conversion completed a very professional 32-point victory for Carolan's side.

IRELAND U-20: Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster); Greg O'Shea (Shannon/Munster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Fergal Cleary (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jack Owens (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster); Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (capt); Jeremy Loughman (UCD/Leinster), Zack McCall (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster), Oisin Heffernan (Terenure College/Leinster), David O'Connor (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Alex Thompson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster), Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster), Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht), Lorcan Dow (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster).

Replacements: Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Michael Lagan (Ballymena/Ulster), Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/NUIG/Connacht), Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht), Nick Timoney (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Jack Cullen (Shannon/Munster), Joey Carbery (UCD/Leinster), Sam Arnold (Ballynahinch/Ulster).

Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)