Ireland U20s stunned New Zealand 33-24 to set themselves up for the knock-out stages of the World Rugby U20 Championships.
Nigel Carolan’s men made short work of the Baby Blacks’ pack while also playing with a flair and dynamism that has rarely been seen by an Irish side at this, or any, age level.
Tries from Greg Jones, Adam McBurney and Max Deegan were key, as well as fine goal-kicking from Johnny McPhillips and Bill Johnston. It was the Irish scrum and rolling maul that did for the Kiwis, however. That and Ireland’s zealous drive to upset all the odds.
One of Ireland’s best players was a certain star for the future – Munster’s Shane Daly.
With Ireland starting the second-half 20-14 to the good, the 19-year-old laid down an early marker on Baby Blacks fullback Jordan Trainor.
Ireland met the Kiwis head-on in midfield and Daly threw every last ounce of himself into a hit that flattened Trainor and gave his team the upper-hand. The ball was eventually knocked on and Ireland got the scrum put-in.
Huge hit from Shane Daly on the Kiwi 15 #Wolfpuppies pic.twitter.com/xLUrOT63fm
— Patrick McCarry (@patmccarry) June 11, 2016
Ireland added a second-half penalty through Johnny McPhillips but a Malo Tuitama try, 60 minutes in, led to a tense conclusion to affairs in Manchester.
The Irish pack kept winning penalties, however, and McPhillips kicked them home.
The senior side take on New Zealand twice in November and could do well with watching a tape of this game. Then watching it again.
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