Heartbreak for Ireland as France produce an emphatic performance to win the Under 20 Rugby World Cup 50-14 in Cape Town this evening.

It was a tight first half, however, Paddy McCarthy’s 38th minute yellow card would prove to be costly for Ireland, as France showcased their ruthlessness in the opening five minutes of the second half to blow the Irish away. France outscored Ireland 33-0 in the second half, a statistic that tells you all you need to know about this game.

Ireland made a bright start to the game, getting on the scoreboard inside the opening three minutes thanks to a quick tap and go penalty from Fintan Gunne, who used his initiative to sneak in under the posts through the legs of Hugo Auradou and Posolo Tuilagi. The 5ft8 scrum-half used his size to his advantage as he darted under the posts, proving to be too quick for the 6ft 3 and 6ft6 French Locks. Prendergast converted the try and Ireland found themselves 7-0 up inside the opening five minutes.

France responded well, however, deploying their immense physicality and set-piece disruption skills. Miscue from Sam Prendergast and Andrew Osborne gifted the French dangerous lineouts near the Irish line. The enormous French pack used their size and power and mauled their way close to the line on several occasions, and were almost over for the try in the 11th minute, were it not for an excellent piece of hold-up defence from Fly-Half Prendergast. France would however go on to score just two minutes later in a wonderfully constructed try that oozed class. Inside Centre Paul Costes gathered the ball on the half-way line and used his electric feet to dance towards the touch-line, dismissing the desperate Irish defenders, before producing a sumptuous offload to his winger Leo Drouet, who powered through Henry McErlean before offloading to scrum-half Jauneau, who eventually offloaded to Mathis Ferte, who would have an easy finish in the end. It was a brilliant team try from France, who showed that they are much more than just the sheer power and size of their pack.

With Hugo Reus converting a penalty, Ireland found themselves three points down, and France looked to be in control of the game. However, in the 30th minute, Ireland scored an excellent pick and go try through John Devine. Playing with a series of penalty advantages, Ireland were patient in their attack, before unleashing the inside centre, who made a powerful running line to break through the French defence and give Ireland the lead again, with Prendergast making it two from two for conversions.

This lead didn’t last long, however, as France showed their class to respond immediately. A dropped ball from Ruadhann Quinn gave France a scrum in a dangerous position inside the Ireland 22. After a series of powerful runs from France, Lino Julien produced an excellent piece of skill just metres out from the Irish line to scoop up a loose ball and power over the Irish try line, swinging the pendulum back in France’s favour.

Ireland were dealt a serious blow in the 38th minute as Paddy McCarthy was sent to the sin-bin for a second offense of collapsing a driving French Maul. Ireland were then reduced to 14 for the next 10 minutes, a pivotal period of the game. It looked as if France would take immediate advantage of their man-advantage, as Oscar Jegou crossed the Irish try line, however Posolo Tuilagi was penalised for obstruction in the build-up and thus the try was ruled out. Ireland could breathe a sigh of relief as they headed into the dressing room for half time just three points behind France.

The French would make a blistering start to the second half, making the most of their man advantage as they scored a try through Pierre Jouvin inside one minute. Earning a penalty at the start of the half, France kicked to the corner, opting to utilise their monstrous maul from just five metres out. After a perfect throw, Jouvin collected the ball at the back of the lineout as France romped over the Irish try line with ease.

France were over the try line again just three minutes later, as they blitzed Ireland right at the start of the second half. After a brilliant turnover from Posolo Tuilagi, the 150kg second row diving to the floor to pounce on the ball, scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau then rpdocued an excellent kick that found acres of space in the Irish backfield. Despite Nicholson collecting it well, he was met by a wave of French players in what was an excellent chase. Tackled and turned over, Ireland were down on numbers just metres out from their own line. Using their numbers advantage, France played some simple passes out wide, where outside centre Nicolas Depoortere found himself through for France’s fourth try of the game.

It was beginning to look ominous for Ireland, who were punished ruthlessly by France during the sin bin period, with France scoring two tries during this period. Ireland fought back well and refused to give up, but did not have what it took to punch through a resolute French defence.

France scored three late tries in the 68th, 74th and 78th minutes, to put the game to bed. Mathis Ferte picked up his second of the night; Lenni Nouchi, the captain, produced an excellent solo run to beat Prendergast to the corner; and Leo Drouet with a dazzling run from the half-way line to race in for an easy finish underneath the posts.

Despite a bright start from Ireland, France were as dominant as the score-line would suggest. As well as profiting from a 10 minutes sin-bin period, France’s defence was immense throughout the entire game, suffocating the Irish attack, who were unable to gain an inch at times. The French pack were able to completely disrupt the Irish set-piece, something which is so pivotal to this Irish team, meanwhile the French backs were electric on the counter, often producing excellent hands and quick feet to dance away from the Irish, who were chasing shadows for large swathes of the game.

It’s heartbreak for Ireland, who have to settle for second place, having been dismissed by a truly wonderful French side. It was one game too far for this Irish side, who have faced some extreme difficulty off the pitch over recent weeks, but they will no doubt come again, hungrier than ever.

Full Time in Cape Town. Ireland 14-50 France

A scintillating second half performance saw Ireland overwhelm South Africa, 31-12 to seal their slot in the final of the U20s World Cup.

After a scoreless but engrossing opening, Ireland dogged in defence, the men in green won penalties to hike their way into the South African twenty-two.

From Gus McCarthy’s accurate throw, the lineout was won, and flanker Diarmuid Mangan thought he had the opening score, extending his arm reach to the line.

It was ruled no try by the referee and after consultation, that verdict was agreed with by the TMO, South Africa escaping as Mangan, and Ireland, were denied by yards.

The pressure was building as half time approach though and when a South African substitute, Jannes Potgeiter was sent to the sin bin for a brutal late and high tackle on Andrew Osborne, Ireland immediately capitalised.

Exploiting the extra player’s vacated space, fly half Sam Prendergast kneaded a perfect cross field kick wide left, James Nicholson grasping, sprinting, and grounding it with grace.

A fine finish to a fantastic bit of vision.  Prendergast followed that up with a pinpoint touchline conversion.

Jean Smith attempted a drop goal to reduce the arrears, but it dropped short, and Ireland went in, shading a closely fought first half, by 7-0.

A sloppy start to the second half saw Ireland given a reprieve as Smith dropped a penalty short of the posts with ill-discipline hurting their cause.

Not heeding their warnings, Ireland coughed up another kickable penalty, this a long-ranger which Smith drifted wide as six potential points were left unclaimed.

That proved immaterial shortly after though as Ireland were scalped open all too easily by Regan Izaks’ spellbinding charge, his footwork wrongfooting the defence.

Although he was eventually hauled to ground, his offload found the support runner, scrum half, Imad Khan who gleefully dotted down under the sticks, Smith making it a seven-pointer to level matters.

Resilience though has been rubber stamped into Richie Murphy’s squad throughout this tournament however and that was fully on display in the next attack.

Number eight, Brian Gleeson, charging hell for leather from close range, his momentum took him through Juann Else on the line as Ireland roared back, retaking the lead, which was extended with Prendergast’s second successful conversion.

As the hour mark ticked by, Ireland refused to relinquish their lead for a second time, instead giving themselves breathing room with another excellent try of quality and composure.

It was, literally, a replica of the first score as Prendergast had a look up and casually, like he was nonchalantly kicking about with his mates in the park, poked a precise kick out left once more.

Where Nicholson was poised, hugging the touchline, to take and canter in, cool as a cucumber with Ireland’s third try, Prendergast three from three as Ireland moved 21-7 ahead.

Murphy’s men then found themselves in dreamland, substitute Sam Bernan finishing smoothly in the opposite corner after a slick Prendergast pick out, this time through the hands.

He remained lethal with the boot as well, converting again from wide and then adding a penalty to take his tally to eleven, a pretty good haul in any match, especially timely in a World Cup semi-final!

South Africa roused themselves and scored a second, four minutes from the end, Coetzee Le Roux getting the try to leave it 31-12.

Finishing on the front foot, Ireland got themselves on the ball and the full-time whistle went to cue echoes of deliria!

Another fine performance from the most mature U20s squad, who have overcome tragedy back at home and South African scores to, ultimately, hockey them, the hosts after all, 24-12 in the second half and advance easily.

Friday’s final is now a date with destiny against the winners of England-France tonight. 

Already though, this is an Ireland squad to cherish, a chance to crown their talent awaits.