RUGBY UNDER-19 INTERNATIONALWhile the conditions ostensibly militated against expansive patterns, Ireland produced quality fare to defeat Italy 23-0 at Malahide
THE STRONG winds that whipped in from the estuary across the exposed plateau on which Malahide rugby club's pitch is perched sent the majority of the supporters into a huddle on the leeward side of the clubhouse to escape a buffeting.
The players were afforded no such luxury.
Conditions ostensibly militated against expansive patterns but while the first half was largely an acclimatisation process to figure out how best to deal with the touchline-to-touchline gale, this young Ireland team produced some high-grade fare after the interval.
The spectators warmed their hands in acknowledgment as the home side ran in three tries.
One time Leinster and Wales' 2005 Grand Slam winning coach Mike Ruddock was present alongside his Irish wife Bernie to watch their son Ciarán line out in the secondrow and was justifiably pleased despite young Ruddock's debut being curtailed on 54 minutes when suffering an ankle injury after landing awkwardly coming down from a lineout.
Armed with a camera, Mike Ruddock might have blended in with the other parents but he remains too well known in these parts and inquiries invariably sought an answer as to whether he would be interested in the Ireland coach's job to which he has been linked.
He has two years left on his contract with the Worcester Warriors - they rather appositely didn't have a match on Saturday - and wasn't about to canvass for another job, pointing out that no one had approached him.
Instead, he spoke about his delight at Ciarán's involvement with Ireland.
"His mother is certainly thrilled. He's a good lad and I couldn't be happier for him. He was very excited about this opportunity and I thought he acquitted himself well.
"At 6ft 4ins it'll be interesting to see in what position he ends up."
The IRB's decision to do away with the under-19 and under-21 World Championships in favour of a global Under-20 tournament means Ireland just have a single fixture left at the under-19 age grade; they face France in Paris in a fortnight's time.
It remains, though, a very important development group for Irish rugby as it is the first time that schools and youths players come together in the one squad.
Ireland coach Charlie McAleese and his assistant Bobby Byrne, on the evidence of Saturday's performance, are challenging the players in terms of skills, attitude and physicality and receiving a hugely positive response.
Leading 6-0 at the interval through a brace of penalties from outhalf Andrew Burke, Ireland managed to go through more phases after the interval and that greater continuity allowed them to stretch and then break the Italian defence.
Left wing Kyle Kirkpatrick's great run eventually led to the ball being moved to the other touchline, where Gary Foley demonstrated great feet in a tight space to beat three tacklers and force his way over in the corner.
The CBC Monkstown centre had moved to the wing in the opening half after a backline reshuffle following a hamstring injury to Shane Gahan.
Johnny Shiels and David Funston occupied a new look midfield, with Foley shifting to the right wing: it didn't compromise fluency.
Ireland's captain, Peter O'Mahoney, an outstanding presence all morning, created the next try for fullback David McIlwaine, the flanker getting his hands free to offload brilliantly.
Tom Sexton and Adam Macklin, who captained Belvedere College and Methody to Leinster and Ulster Schools' Cup victories respectively, were introduced from the bench and soon after the home side grabbed their third and the game's best try.
Number eight Michael Noone won a turnover at an Italian lineout and the ball was moved quickly to Kirkpatrick with the Ards wing showing tremendous acceleration to outstrip the cover. Burke converted.
Given the conditions and a physical Italian team for whom scrumhalf Luca Martinelli was superb, it was a decent Ireland display with a number of excellent performances not least the dangerous Kirkpatrick, O'Mahoney and openside Seán Dougall, whose influence on the match grew as the game progressed.
The under-19 team, even without the focus of a World Cup, is a very important developmental stage for provincial academy players.
It's a proving ground where skills and aptitude are more important that simply a result and therefore a respite from the cut-throat arena of schools cups.
Teams and Scorers
Scoring sequence: 6 mins:Burke penalty, 3-0; 35(+5):Burke penalty, 6-0. Half-time: 6-0. 43:Foley try, 11-0; 50:McIlwaine try, 16-0; Kirkpatrick try, Burke conversion, 23-0.
IRELAND UNDER-19:D McIlwaine (QUB, Ulster); J Shiels (Coleraine AI, Ulster), G Foley (CBC Monkstown, Leinster), S Gahan (Lansdowne, Leinster), K Kirkpatrick (Ards, Ulster); A Burke (Crescent College Limerick, Munster), C Murray (Young Munster, Munster); G Duffy (UCC, Munster), D McGregor (Ballynahinch, Ulster), A Whitten (Instonians, Ulster); C Ruddock (Ospreys, Exiles), M Flanagan (UCD, Leinster); P O'Mahoney (PBC Cork, Munster, capt), S Dougall (Barnard Castle, Leeds Carnegie), M Noone (CBC Monkstown, Leinster). Replacements: D Funston (Derry, Ulster) for Gahan (19 mins); A Macklin (Methody, Ulster) for Whitten, T Sexton (Belvedere College, Leinster) for McGregor (both 51 mins); J McGrath (St Mary's, Leinster) for Duffy, S Grannell (CBC Monkstown, Leinster) for Ruddock; M Healy (Lansdowne, Leinster) for Murray, I McKinley (St Columba's College, Leinster) for Burke (all 54 mins).
ITALY UNDER-19:N Sintich; S Daupi, C Massarella, S Campagnaro, S Andreucci; PF Dotta, L Martinelli; F Cocivera, G Zoli, A Sacco; F Riedi, J Furno; E Caffini, A Lovotti, L Petillo (capt). Replacements: L Contini for Riedi (47 mins); M Maffei for Lovotti (51 mins); E Lauri for Andreucci (54 mins); D Postiglione for Sacco, M Dartora for Campagnaro (both 58 mins); S Dusi for Martinelli (65 mins).
Referee: A McMenemy(Scotland).
