U20s title down to the wire after thrilling England-Ireland draw
The one thing that can be said with certainty about age-grade rugby at U20s level is that more often than not the entertainment served up is top-notch viewing. Friday night at The Rec embellished this consensus, the quality of the edge-of-seat action igniting an electric atmosphere for the 12,267 attendance.
Come the finish, it was all-square, a gripping 32-all draw leaving the title undecided ahead of next weekend’s final round of matches where England go to France and Ireland host Scotland.
No one can predict how that will turn out but the one definite outcome following this nine-try thriller was that neither team can be crowned Grand Slam champions.
The last time these countries clashed at U20s, they produced a terrific 34-all draw in Paarl in the opening round of last June’s Junior World Championship, and this 2024 Six Nations title race remains delicately poised.
Both teams came into this round four encounter with three wins apiece – with the English placed on top courtesy of having one bonus point more than the Irish. They have kept hold of that advantage after this draw.
Ireland had altered their entire front row as well as a lock in the hope of adding more heft to the scrum. However, they infringed at the first set-piece and the kick to the corner led to England mauling their way to the line through Junior Kpoku. Skipper Finn Carnduff then squirmed over from a resulting ruck for the fourth-minute breakthrough converted by Sean Kerr.
It was 13 weeks ago when Ulster, the team that Irish coach Richie Murphy will intriguingly take over on an interim basis at the end of this age-grade championship next weekend, were obliterated at The Rec by the Bath scrum, but Ireland found a way to limit the damage here so that it didn’t become a damaging, result-defining facet of play.
A penalty win four minutes into the second half bore this out and while England did win one back on 61 minutes, Ireland doggedly levelled this set-piece penalty count at two-all less than 90 seconds later (it did later end three-two in the hosts’ favour).
Despite their under-the-pump beginning to the match, Ireland, who were looking to take another step towards a third successive age-grade Grand Slam, drew breath with a ninth-minute Jack Murphy penalty kick some minutes after an excellent tackle from Wilhelm de Klerk announced them in the game.
By now, the breakdown battle was ferocious and Ireland next infringed, Kerr landing penalty points from near halfway to push the margin back to seven.
A trump Irish card, though, in this Murphy era has been to be at their most dangerous when least expected. They constantly adapt and brilliantly find a way and here was no different on 16 minutes when a soft fumble from Olamide Sodeka was royally punished a few phases later.
It was out-half Murphy, the Irish coach’s son, who lofted the gem of a crosskick from halfway that was gobbled up by Finn Treacy. The winger still had plenty of work to do from outside the 22 but he made it look easy, blitzing Josh Bellamy on the outside and running around to dot down under the posts for the try added to by Murphy’s conversion.
That levelled it at 10-all and the visitors would have been ahead if a chip kick bobble had been kinder for Hugo McLaughlin after it eluded English scrum-half Archie McParland.
England’s reprieve was only temporary, however, as they were again punished for an unnecessary error. This time it was a messed up lineout call that hurt and with Treacy gaining territory by securing Murphy’s kick, the hosts were scrambling.
A penalty advantage was signalled when Asher Opoku-Fordjour didn’t roll away at a breakdown and that was Ireland’s cue to clinically pounce, the ball making its way back into the hands of Treacy who put Ben O’Connor in for the unconverted lead-taking try.
Down by five, England cut the gap to two – 13-15 – by the interval, Kerr landing a penalty following a rollicking Nathan Michelow carry, and it was all to play for following an end-to-end opening half.
The second period continued with the frolics, Irish winger McLaughlin redeeming himself for a try-ruining spill on the 22 by galloping in at the corner on 48 minutes for an unconverted score and a seven-point advantage.
Eight minutes later, it was England who were celebrating. Carnduff made a huge bust to haunt the line and with the Irish cover sucked in, George Makepeace-Cubitt found the unmarked Oli Spencer with a peach of crosskick for a try.
The conversion was missed, leaving two points in it, and the pendulum then swung again. Ireland used a scrum penalty to secure territory and sub hooker Henry Walker was then mauled over for the bonus point try. Again, the extra weren’t snapped up, leaving it 25-18 with less than 15 minutes remaining.
You just knew there would be another quick twist and there was, England getting over through Kane James following a five-metre penalty and Kerr scored the conversion to tie it all up with 10 to go.
What belting fun this contest was and it was the hosts who thought they had the last laugh. Scrum and in-at-the-side penalties earned them territory but rather than shoot at the posts, they went for touch and that decision got them the four-try bonus point – Ben Waghorn getting in at the corner on 77 – and Kerr’s touchline conversion make it a seven-point lead.
That should have been that but it remarkably wasn’t. There were English complaints about the award of a penalty to Ireland, but it set up a heart-stopping, clock-in-the-red finish that culminated with Luke Murphy scoring by the posts on 82:13. Sub kicker Sean Naughton added the game-levelling conversion. Wow!
"Early on it was a little bit different…"
– Richie Murphy on the dynamic of having son Jack as his Ireland U20s Six Nations out-half, from Liam Heagney ?? at The Rec #U6N20 #IrelandRugby #EnglandRugby #ENGvIRE #rugby pic.twitter.com/TPBcdUP8R7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 9, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments