Ireland achieve bonus-point victory but South Africa seal semi-final place

JUNIOR WORLD CUP: Ireland 41 Italy 12:IRELAND WERE pipped to a place in the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Junior Championship when hosts South Africa had a four-try bonus point 28-15 victory over England to top the pool by a single point. Ireland, who beat the baby Boks, will now face England in the first of two games to decide places five to eight.

Earlier Ireland managed a bonus-point victory, scoring six tries, but what looked like a straight forward task given a stunning opening to their final pool match at the Cape Town stadium yesterday afternoon, became a great deal more fraught because of an error-strewn performance.

Mike Ruddock’s charges started the game brilliantly with three tries in the first seven minutes from centre Peter Nelson, his midfield partner Chris Farrell and blindside flanker Aaron Conneely, all three of which were converted impressively by Jack Carty.

Securing the fourth try appeared to be a mere bagatelle, especially when Ireland swept to within seven metres of the Italian line but scrumhalf Luke McGrath, on a wrap-around, had his pass intercepted and Edoardo Padovani raced the length of the pitch to score in the corner.

Ireland’s accuracy and precision deserted them and possession became something of a liability as just five minutes later Sam Coghlan Murray turned over the ball in a tackle and when he tried to rescue the situation saw it bounce horribly allowing Italian scrumhalf Guido Calabrese to collect and touch down to make it 21-12. Carty kicked a penalty soon after but Ireland spent the rest of the tie undermining their ambition with handling errors and being pummelled in the scrum.

Ruddock shrewdly introduced Tadhg Furlong at tighthead at the interval and the Irish scrum was subsequently more secure.

Hooker James Rael’s try on 50 minutes copper fastened the bonus point, Luke McGrath added a fifth just three minutes later and Nelson’s second on 63 minutes ensured that Ireland could cruise to the final whistle.

A hamstring injury to Coghlan Murray was the one obvious downside in the immediate aftermath.

Scoring sequence 1 min: Nelson try, Carty con, 7-0; 4: Farrell try, Carty con, 14-0; 7: Conneely try, Carty con, 21-0; 11: Padovani try, Padovani con, 21-7; 16: Calabrese try, 21-12; 19: Carty pen, 24-12. Half-time: 24-12. 50: Rael try, 29-12; 53: McGrath try, Carty con, 36-12; 63: Nelson try, 41-12.

IRELAND:M Sherlock (Leinster); C Finn (Connacht), P Nelson (Ulster), C Farrell (Ulster), S Coghlan Murray (Leinster); J Carty (Connacht), L McGrath (Leinster); D Merrey (Leinster), J Rael (Munster), P Reilly (Leinster); A O'Connor (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster); A Conneely (Connacht), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements: S Olding (Ulster) for Coghlan Murray 29 mins; T Furlong (Leinster) for Reilly (half-time); T Beirne (Leinster) for van der Flier 47 mins J Cawley (Leinster) for Merrey 57 mins; C Marsh (Leinster) for Farrell 59 mins; S Buckley (Munster) for Henderson 62 mins; K Marmion (Connacht) for Nelson 68 mins; N Scannell (Munster) for Rael 70 mins.

ITALY: D Odiete; A Morsellino, G Benvenuti, A Bettin, F Guarducci; E Padovani, G Calabrese; G Maistri (capt), G Scalvi, L Bortoletti; M Bellucci, A Luca Mammana; R Riccioli, G Zanini, V Marazzi. Replacements: M Violi for Calabrese 61 mins; F Conforti for Marazzi 61 mins; S Drissi-Panico for Maistri 66 mins; L Conti for Scalvi 66 mins; J Apperley for Guarducci 66 mins.

Referee:Angus Gardner (Australia).